TN 
24- 
C5 
A3 


L.  ROOT 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAl 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 


State  Mineralogist     j 


BULLETIN  No.  96 


[September, 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1924 


4 1  &  2 1; 


LIBRARY 


XUNITED  STATES 
DEPARTM^^OF  AGRIC 


S— 1577 


URE 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
LLOYD  L.  ROOT  State  Mineralogist 


San  Francisco] 


BULLETIN  No.  96 


[September,  1925 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1924 


By 
WALTER  W.  BRADLEY 


F.  s.         o.,i 

'^  SEO  H  I  V  K  o 

'FEB  I  ^1926 

LIBRARY 


41922 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    PRINTING    OFFICE 

JOHN  E.  KING,  Slate  Printer 

SACRAMENTO,  1925 

LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA 
DAVIS 


CONTEXTS. 

Page 

LETTER    OF    TRANSMITTAL . 7 

IXTRODUCTIOX 9 

Ch AFTER    I. 

Hl'MMARY  OF  THE  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  IN  CALIFORNIA  DURING  THE 

YEAR  OF  1924 11 

Tabulatiox  of  the  Mineral  Production  Showixg  Comparative  Amounts 

AND  Values — 1923  and   1924 13 

Table  Showing  Comparathe  Mineral  Production  of  the  Various  Coun- 
ties IN  California  for  1923  and  1924 14 

Total  Production.  18S7-1924 15 

Chai'Ter  II. 
FUELS   (HYDROCARBONS)  — 

Introductory 16 

Coal 16 

Natural  Gas 17 

Petroleum    20 

METALS —  Chapter  HI. 

Introductory     36 

Aluminum 37 

Antimony 37 

Arsenic   __-- 38 

Beryllium ; 39 

Bismuth 39 

Cadmium ^ 40 

Cobalt   40 

Copper 41 

Gold 44 

Iridium.      (Sec  Platinum.  ) 

Iron 48 

Lead -- 49 

Manganese 50 

Molybdenum 51 

Nickel 52 

Osmium 51 

Palladium    52 

Platinum 52 

Quick. SILVER   — -- 55 

Silver    56 

Tin   ■- 58 

Tungsten    59 

Vanadium 60 

Zinc 61 

<"H.\PTER    IV. 
STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS — 

Introductory  62 

Asphalt 63 

Bituminous   Rock 63 

Brick  and  Hollow  Tile 64 

Cement    64 

Chromitk    . -■ 68 

Granite '0 

Limb '3 

Magnesite    — "•* 

Marble    — '^^ 

Onyx  and  Travertine 80 

Sandstone    81 


4  CONTENTS. 

Chapte".  IV — Continued. 
STRUCTURAL,   MATERIALS — Continued.  p^^j. 

Serpextixe 82 

Sl-ATE 85 

StOXE ;MlSCELLANEOrS -- 84 

Paving  Blocks -- 85 

Grinding-Mill  Pebbles 85 

Sand  and  Gravel 86 

Crushed  Rock 87 

Chapter  V. 
INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS — 

IXTRODrCTORT 91 

Asbestos -- 92 

Barttes -- 93 

Clat — Pottery    — 94 

Dolomite    97 

Feldspar 98 

Fll-qrspar 99 

Fuller's  Earth 100 

Gems 101 

Graphite    — 103 

GTPsrM 104 

IXFrSORIAL   AJTD   DiATOMACBOl'S   EARTHS — 105 

LiMESTOXE      107 

LiTHIA 108 

MICA 108 

Mineral   Paixt -- 109 

MiXERAL  Water 110 

Phosphates 111 

PiMiCE  axd  Volcaxic  Ash 111 

Pyrites    -- 112 

Shale  Oil :-- -- 113 

Silica — Saxd  axd  Quartz 113 

Sillimaxite    axd    Axdalusite 115 

SOAPSTOXE  axd  Talc 116 

Strontium    US 

Sulphur 119 

Chatter  VI. 
SALINES— 

Ixtroductory 120 

Borates 120 

Calcium  Chloride 122 

Magxesium  Salts -- 124 

Nitrates    124 

Potash     — 125 

Salt 126 

SODA 12S 

Chapter  VII. 
MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES^ 

Ixtroductory 130 

Alame:da -- 131 

AXPIXE -_ 131 

Amador    131 

Butte 132 

Calaveras 132 

Colusa 133 

CoxTRA  Costa 133 

Del    Norte - 134 

El  Dorado — 134 

Frbsno 135 

Glenx 135 


CON'raNTS.  5 

Chai'Tiou  VII — Continued. 
MINERAL,    PRODUCTION    OF   CALIFORNIA   BY    COUNTIES— Contiuutd.  Page 

humboi.dt 135 

impep.iai. 136 

Inyo 136 

Kerx    : ^ 137 

Kings 137 

Lake 138 

Lassen   138 

Los  Angeles 139 

Madera 139 

Marin    140 

Mariposa    _. 140 

Mendocino 140 

Merced 141 

Modoc 141 

Mono 141 

Monterey    14J 

Xapa -- 142 

Nevada 143 

Orange    143 

Placer  144 

Plumas -- 144 

Riverside    144 

Sacramento 145 

San   Benito 145 

San  Bernardino 146 

San    Diego   146 

San   Francisco H7 

San  Joaquin 147 

San  Luis  Obispo -- 148 

San  Mateo — 148 

Santa  Barbara 148 

Santa  Clara —  149 

Santa  Cruz — .._ 149 

Shasta    150 

Sierra    -- 150 

Siskiyou 150 

Solano 151 

Sonoma   151 

Stanislaus   152 

Sutter 152 

Tehama 152 

Trinity    153 

Tulare — 153 

TiTOLUMNE    _- 154 

Ventura 154 

Yolo 154 

Yuba    155 

APPENDIX. 

MINING     BUREAU    ACT_- — 156 

PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 159 

INDEX    160 


ILLUSTKATIOXS. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 

Page 

Outline  map  of  California,  showing  approximate  locaiion  of  oil  fields 27 

Tramway  terminal  and  head-frame  at   Superior  Mine,  Kngels  Copper  Company, 

Plumas   County    42 

Surface  plant    (head-frame  and  mill)    of  Idaho-Maryland  Mine  at  Grass  Valley, 

Xevada  County 46 

Filters  in  cyanide  plant  of  Empire  Mine,  Grass  Valley,  Nevada  County 46 

State  highway  bridge  over  the  Sacramento  River,  Dunsmuir.  Siskiyou  County, 
showing  use  of  California  cement  and  crushed  rock  in  a  reinforced  con- 
crete structure -- 67 

Summit  lime  plant  of  Union  Lime    Company  at  Tehachapi,  Kern  County 73 

Southerly  side  of  'Xorth'  Hill  (Marker  Mine)  from  the  south,  showing  both  'Gash' 

and   'Blanket'   veins,   near   Porterville,   Tulare   Countv 75 

Magnesite  specimen   showing  conchoidal   fracture.     From  Xo.   4   Tunnel,   Tulare 

Mine  of  Sierra  Magnesite  Company,  near  Success,  Tulare  County 76 

^Magnesite   specimen   showing  conchoidal   fracture.     From    Stanislaus   County 76 

Travertine  being  deposited  by  mineral  spring  at  Bridgeport,  Mono  County 81 

Loading  crushed  rock  on  barge  at  quarry  of  Blake  Bros.,  Point  Richmond.  Contra 

Costa  County 87 

Hauling  salt  from  ponds  of  Leslie  Salt  Refining  Company,  San  Mateo  County 127 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


September.  1925. 

To  His  Excellencxj,  The  Honorable  Friend  Wm.  Richardson. 
Governor  of  the  State  of  California. 

Sir  :  I  have  the  liouor  to  herewith  transmit  BuUetiii  No.  !*()  of  the 
State  Alining  Bureau,  being  the  annual  report  of  the  statistics  of  the 
mineral  production  of  California. 

The  remarkable  variety,  total  valuation,  and  wide  distributi(>n  of 
many  of  our  minerals  revealed  herein  show  California's  importance 
as  a  producer  of  commercial  minerals  among  the  states  of  the  Union. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Lloyd  L.  Root, 

State  ^lineralogist. 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  the  endeavor  of  the  staff  of  the  State  Alining'  P>ureau.  in  tliese 
annual  reports  of  the  mineral  industries  of  California,  to  so  compile 
the  statistics  of  production  that  they, will  he  of  actual  use  to  producers 
and  to  those  interested  in  the  utilization  of  the  mineral  products  of  our 
state,  while  at  the  saiiu^  time  keepiiiy  the  individnal's  data  confidential. 
In  addition  to  the  mei'e  figures  of  output,  we  have  inclu(h'd  descriptions 
of  the  uses  and  characteristics  of  many  of  the  materials,  a.s  well  as  a 
brief  mention  of  their  occurrences. 

The  compilation  of  accurate  and  dependable  figures  is  an  extremely 
difficult  undertaking,  aiul  tlie  State  ^lineralogist  takes  tht^  oi)[)ortunity 
of  here  expressing  his  aj^jn-eciation  of  the  cooperation  of  the  producers 
in  making  this  work  ])ossible.  A  fuller  appreciation  of  the  value  of 
early  responses  to  the  requests  sent  out  in  January  will  result  in 
earlier  completion  of  the  manuscript.  Statistics  lose  much  of  their 
value  if  their  publication  is  unnecessarily  delayed. 

Some  of  the  data  relative  to  properties  and  uses  of  many  of  the 

minerals  herein  described  are  repeated  from  preceding  reports,   as  it 

is  intended  that  this  annual  statistical  bulletin  shall  be  somewhat  of 

a  compendium  of  information  on  California's  commercial  minerals  and 

their  utilization. 

Lloyd  L.  Root, 

State  Mineralogist. 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY,  CALIFORNIA,  1924. 


DATA   COMPILED    FROM   DIRECT   RETURNS    FROM    PRO- 
DUCERS IN  ANSWER  TO  INQUIRIES  SENT  OUT  BY 
THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUREAU, 
FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO, 
CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  output  of  California  for  the  vear  192-i 
was  $874,620,789  being  an  increase  of  $80,596,111  over  the  1923  total 
of  .$344,024,678.  There  were  sixty  different  mineral  substances,  exclus- 
ive of  a  setire<2:ation  of  the  various  stones  <i'rouped  under  geins;  and  all 
of  the  fifty-eight  counties  of  the  state  contributed  to  the  list. 

As  revealed  by  the  data  following  herein,  the  salient  features  of  1924 
compared  with  the  preceding  year  Avere :  The  increased  value  of  the 
petroleum  yield,  although  there  was  a  material  decrease  in  quantity : 
decrease  in  cement  value  owing  to  lower  prices,  although  increased 
amounts  were  manufactured ;  increases  in  copper,  (piicksilver.  tungsten. 
uranit(\  marble,  miscellaneous  stone,  limestone,  mineral  water,  potash, 
and  salt ;  and  decreases  in  natural  gas,  gold,  silver,  platinum,  brick, 
itiagnesite,  pottery  clay,  gypsum,  pyrites  and  borates.  The  net  result 
was  an  increase  in  the  grand  total  of  all  groups  of  nearly  thirty-one 
million  dollars,  as  stated  above.  Petroleum  accounted  for  an  increase 
r.i'  $31,921,565  in  total  value  in  spite  of  a  decrease  of  approximately 
34,000.000  barrels  in  quantity. 

Of  the  metals:  copper  increased  from  28,346,860  pounds  worth 
$4,166.9.s'9  to  52.089.349  pounds  worth  $6,823,704:  quicksilver  from 
5458  Hasks  and  .$332,851  to  7948  tiasks  and  $543,080;  and  tungsten 
from  34  tons  and  $19.12(i  to  781  tons  and  $446,009.  (fold  decreased 
sliglitly  from  $13,379,013  to  $13,150,175.  in  spite  of  which,  as  for  several 
years  ])ast,  California  continued  to  account  for  approximately  30',  of 
the  gold  output  of  the  United  States.  Silver  deerea.sed  in  value  from 
$2,918,743  to  $2,381,952,  owing  to  a  lower  average  price. 

Of  the  structural  group  :  cement  advanced  in  quantit.v  from  10.825.405 
barrels  to  11,655.131  barrels,  but  due  to  foreign  importations  duty  free, 
the  price  dropped,  resulting  in  a  decrease  of  total  value  fi'om  $25,999,203 
to  $23,225,850;  granite  iiu-reased  from  $760,081  to  $1,211,046  in  value, 
due  to  certain  large  building  conti'acts.  notal)ly  the  Los  Angeles  County 
P>uilding;  brick  and  hollow  l)uilding  blocks  or  tile  decreased  in  total 
value  from  .$9,738,082  to  $9,137,908  owing  mainly  to  a  decrease  in 
connnon  brick.     Lime  and  magnesite  also  registered  decreases. 

Of  the  'industi-ial'  grou^),  as  is  usually  the  ca.se,  there  were  a  number 
of  Huct nations,  the  more  im])ortant  inci-eases  in  value  being  shown  by 
min<'ral  water  and  limestone,  and  decreases  in  value  by  diatomaceous 
earth,  i)ottery  clay,  gyi)sum,  ])yrites  aiul  talc.  Of  the  salines,  Ixirates 
and  soda  showed  decreases,  wliile  connnon  salt,  potash  and  magnesium 
salts  advanced  in  quantity  au<l  value. 


12  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

The  figures  of  the  State  Minincr  Bureau  are  made  up  from  reports 
received  direct  from  the  producers  of  the  various  minerals.  Care  is 
exercised  in  avoiding  duplication,  and  any  error  is  likely  to  be  on  the 
side  of  under-  rather  than  ovor-estimation. 

California  yields  commereially  a  greater  number  and  variety  of 
mineral  products  than  any  .state  in  the  United  States,  and  probably 
more  than  any  other  eciual  area  elsewhere  of  the  earth.  The  total 
annual  value  of  her  output  is  surpassed  by  not  more  than  four  or  five 
others,  and  those  usually  the  great  coal  states  of  east  of  the  ]\Iississippi. 
California  was  for  many  years  the  sole  domestic  source  of  borax, 
chromite  and  magnesite  and  in  which  we  still  lead.  We  lead  all  other 
states  in  the  production  of  gold,  quicksilver,  and  platinum :  and  have 
alternated  in  the  lead  with  Colorado  in  tungsten,  and  with  Oklahoma 
in  petroleum. 

The  above  noted  total  value  of  California's  mineral  industries  for 
1924  exceeds  by  more  than  six  million  dollars,  the  estimate  of  the  State 
Department  of  Agriculture  for  the  farm  values  of  California's  agricul- 
tural production  in  1924  Avhich  was  placed  at  $368,427,000.^ 

The  economic  importance  of  the  mineral  industries  throughout  the 
Ignited  States  as  a  whole  is  evidenced  by  a  statement"  recently  issued  by 
the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce  concerning  the  freight  handled  by 
the  railroads  of  the  country,  the  products  of  mines  representing  51.33 
per  cent  of  the  whole.  The  various  industries  are  represented  as 
follows : 

Freight 
Industry  -  per  cent 

Agricultural   products   10.63 

Animals  and  products 2.23 

Forest  products 9.64 

Manufactures    and    miscellaneous 26.17 

Mines — 

Anthracite   coal -- 5.68 

Bituminous  coal 28.45 

Iron   ore    — 4.23 

Clay,  sand,  gravel,  stone 8.67 

All  other  mineral  products 4.30 

51.33 

Total    100.00 

'Kaufman.    E.    E.,    Agricultural    statistician,    Cal.    Co-op.    Crop    Reporting    Section, 
State  Dept.  of  Agri. :   Sacramento  Bee.  Jan.   10,   1925. 
=Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Aug.  22,  1925,  p.  304. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


13 


By  Substances. 

The  followiug  table  shows  the  coinparutive  yield  of  mineral  substances 
of  ('alifornia  for  1923  and  1924,  as  compiled  from  the  returns  received 
at  the  State  ilinini?  Bureau,  San  Francisco,  in  answer  to  inquiries  sent 
to  producers: 


Substance 

1923 

1924 

Increase+ 

Decrease — 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Asbestos 

20  tons 

2,925  tons 

2,945  tons 

62,667  tons 

$200 

16,058 

11,780 

1,893,798 

9,738,082 

25,999.203 

1,658 

697,841 

5,090 

4,166,989 

142,615 

81,800 

55,125 

13,220 

13,379,013 

760.081 

289,136 

18,665 

695,416 

788.834 

348,464 

70  tons 

$4,750 

$4,550+ 

Barytes 

16,058— 

Bituminous  rock.   _ . 

6,040  tons 
52,070  tons 

14,922 

1.599,149 

9,137,908 

23,225,850 

6,700 

651,857 

8,800 

6,823,704 

71,271 

68,112 

67,295 

4,800 

13,150,175 

1,211.046 

53,210 

* 

398,751 
<  03,355 
582,660 

2,269 
900,183 
145,883 
25,785 
140,253 

5.234 

818,726 

15,153,140 

3,142+ 

294,649— 

Brick  and  hollow  tile. 

600,174— 

Cement... 

10,825,405  bbls. 

84  tons 

376,863  tons 

1,010  tons 

28,246,860  lbs. 

69,519  tons 

11,100  tons 

3,650  tons 

11,655,131  bbls. 

350  tons 

417,928  tons 

1,425  tons 

52.089,349  lbs. 

28,843  tons 

9,055  tons 

5,290  tons 

2,773,352— 

Chromite .           .  . 

5,042+ 

Clay  (pottery)... 

45,984— 

Coal... 

3,710+ 

Copper. . . 

2,656,715+ 

Dolomite 

71,344— 

Feldspar 

13,688— 

Fuller's  earth. 

12,170+ 

Gems.. 

8,420— 

Gold 

228,838— 

Granite. 

450  965+ 

Gypsum 

86,410  tons 

3,102  tons 

9,934,522  lbs. 

70,894  tons 

143,266  tons 

25,569  tons 

4,984,387  lbs. 

62,029  tons 

219  476  tons 

109  tons 

67,236  tons 

4,823  tons 

1,115  tons 

"61,579  cu.  ft. 

532  tons 

8,159,211  gals. 

209,921,596  M  cu.  ft. 

b 

228,933,471  bbls. 

273  fine  oz. 
33,107  tons 
4,919  tons 
124,214  tons 

7.948  flasks 
318,800  tons 
6,700  cu.  ft. 
6,808  tons 
3,555,153  fine  oz. 
16.179  tons 
32,536  tons 

235  926- 

Iron  ore .   . 

Iyead._, 

296,665— 

Lime... 

85,479— 

Limestone.  .. 

234,196+ 

2,269+ 

Magnesitc.-     

73,963  tons 

3,662  tons 

690  tons 

28,015  cu.  ft. 

1,049  tons 

5,487,276  gals. 

240,405,397  Mcu.  ft. 

14,220  cu.  ft. 
262,875,690  bbls. 

602  fine  oz. 
29,597  tons 
2,936  tons 
148,004  tons 

5,458  flasks 
275,979  tons 
7,000  cu.  ft. 
7,964  tons 
3,559,443  fine  oz. 
17,439  tons 
34,885  tons 

946,643 

116,031 

10,620 

124,919 

11,773 

616,919 

15,661,433 

2.510 

242,731,309 

78,546 

709,836 

16,309 

555,308 

332,851 

1,130,670 

13,000 

30,420 

2,918,743 

252.661 

764,284 

15,395,652 

19,126 

46,460— 

Magnesium  salts 

29,852+ 

Manganese  ore . 

15,165+ 

Marble 

15,334+ 

Mineral  paint 

6,539— 

201,807+ 

Natural  gas .  . 

508,293— 

+ 

Petroleum 

274.652,874 

36,452 

747,407 

33,404 

517.835 

543,080 

1.159,137 

3.600 

35,006 

2.381,952 

242,770 

711,796 

15,966,380 

446,009 

198,900 

«1,968.399 

31,921,565+ 

42,094— 

Potash 

37,571+ 

Pumice  and  volcanic  ash. . . 
Pj-rites-. 

17,095+ 
37.473— 

210,229+ 

Salt 

28,467+ 

9,400— 

Silica  (sand  and  quartz) 

Silver.... 

4,586+ 
536,791— 

Soapstone  and  talc. 

Soda.. 

9,891— 
52,488— 

570  728+ 

Tungsten  concentrates 

Zinc  . . 

34  tons 

781  tons 
3,060,000  lbs. 

426,883+ 
198,900+ 

''2.482,047 

513,648— 

Total  values 

$344,024,678 

$374,620,789 

Net  increase 

$30,596,111  + 

*  Sec  under  '  unapportioued.' 

•  Includes  onjTC  and  travertine, 
i'  Combined  with  marble. 

"  Includes  macadam,  balhvst,  rubble,  riprap,  paving  blocks,  sand,  gravel,  and  grindiug-mill  pebbles. 
<'  Includes  diatomaceous  earth,  calcium  chloride,  shale  oil,  sillimanite-andalusite,  and  sulphur. 
'  Includes  calcium  chloride,  diatomaceous  earth,  iron  ore,  shale  oil,  sillimanite-andalusite,  sulphur,  aluminum  sul- 
phate, glauber  salt,  potash  alum,  mica  schist,  radio  galena  crystals,  arsenic. 


14  MIXERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

By  Counties. 

The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  value  of  the  miiieral 
production  of  the  various  counties  in  the  state,  for  the  years  1923 
and  1924: 


County 


1923 


County 


Alameda 

Alpine 

Amador 

Butte 

Calaveras 

Ctdu5a 

Contra  Costa. 

Del  Xorte 

El  Dorado 

Fresno 

Glenn 

Humbddt 

Imperial 

Inyo 

Kem-_  

Kings 

Lake 

Lassen 

Ixe  .Angeles__. 

Madera 

Marin 

Mariposa 

Mendocino 

Merced 

Modoc 

Mono 

Monterey 

Napa 

Nevada 

Orange _. 


$2  487,035 


1.955 
Wl 

1,498, 
75 

>,672 

34 

216: 

1.883. 
113 
434 
264 

J.845 

1.812 

1 

101, 

1,367! 

518, 

688, 

170 

53 

235 

8, 

92. 

222 

351! 

!.37a 

>.468. 


$2,634,645 

2.552 

2.938.865 

641,750 

1.572.419 

77,267 

2,348.090 

722.265 

395,572 

12.547,798 

41.550 

485.478 

139.908 

2.110.075 

7i. 161,451 

725 

96,396 

37,908 

168.420.709 

955.469 

527,231 

234,707 

60,768 

87.603 

1.300 

126.691 

286.490 

359,265 

2,945,267 

40.481.210 


Placer 

Plumas 

Riverside 

Sacramento 

San  Benito 

San  Bernardino- . 

San  Diego 

San  Francisco 

San  Joa<iuin 

San  Luis  Obispo. 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara... 

Santa  Clara 

Santa  Cruz 

Shasta 

Sierra 

Siskiyou 

Solano 

Sonoma 

Stanislaus 

Sutter 

Tehama 

Trinitj- 

Talare 

Tuolumne 

Ventura 

Yolo 

Yuba 


1923 


$494. 

3,784. 

7,093. 

2,436, 

2,277, 

13,777. 

821, 

117, 

811. 

145, 

329, 

5,005, 

1,320, 

4.225, 

1,563. 

886, 

181, 

3,376, 


445, 

6. 

677 

466. 

670, 

4,679, 

16, 

3,391, 


Total  values [     $344,024,678 


$492,180 

3.876,105 

5,508,244 

2,196,210 

2.144,603 

12,642,431 

1.013,119 

150,258 

602,500 

317,779 

302,171 

5.159,740 

1,150,401 

4,339,233 

4,754,664 

812,476 

140,787 

3,089,475 

172.051 

.34.5,138 

97 

34,4.54 

509..344 

498,674 

629.156 

6,089,394 

15,800 

2,189.881 


$374,620,789 


Total  Mineral   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  total  value  of  mineral  production 
of  California  by  years  since  1887,  in  which  year  compilation  of  such 
data  by  the  State  Alining  Bureau  began.  At  the  side  of  the.se  figures 
the  writer  has  placed  the  values  of  the  most  important  metal  and  non- 
metal  items — gold  and  petroleum. 

In  the  same  period  copper  made  an  important  growth  beginning  with 
1897  following  the  entry  of  the  Shasta  County  mines,  and  more 
recently  Plumas  County.  Cement  increased  rapidly  from  1902.  while 
crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel  as  a  group  parallels  the  cement  increase. 
Quicksilver  has  been  up  and  down.  Mineral  water  and  salt  have 
always  been  important  items,  but  the  values  fluctuate.  Borax  has 
increased  materially  since  1896.  "War-time  increases,  1915-1918,  were 
shown  by  chromite.  copper,  lead,  magnesite,  manganese,  silver,  tungsten 
and  zinc.  Most  of  these,  except  silver,  have  since  declined;  with 
structural  materials  and  copper  increasing  in  1920-1924,  also  lead  and 
niasne.site  in  1923. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODI'CTION. 
Total   Mineral   Production  of  California  by  Years,  Since   1887. 


15 


Year 

Total  value  of 
all  minerals 

Gold,  value 

Petroleum, 
value 

1887                                -- 

$19,785,808 
19,469,320 
16,681,731 
18,039,666 
18,872,413 
18,300,168 
18,811,261 
20.203,294 
22,844,663 
24,291,398 
25,142,441 
27.289,079 
29,313,460 
32,622,945 
34,355,981 
35,069,105 
37,759,040 
43,778,348 
43,069,227 
46,776,085 
55,697,949 
66.363,198 
82,972,209 
88,419.079 
87,497,879 
88,972.385 
98,644  639 
93,314,773 
96,663,369 
127.901,610 
161,202,962 
199,753,837 
195.830.002 
242,099,667 
268,157.472 
245,183,826 
344.024.678 
374,620,789 

? 13,588,614 
12,750,000 
11,212,913 
12,309,793 
12,728,869 
12,571,900 
12,422,811 
13,923.281 
15.334,317 
17,181,562 
1.5.871,401 
15,906,478 
15..336,031 
15.863,355 
16.989,044 
16,910.320 
16.471,264 
19,109,600 
19,197,043 
18,732,452 
16,727,928 
18,761,559 
20.237,870 
19,715,440 
19,738,908 
19,713,478 
20,406,9.58 
20,653,496 
22,442,296 
21,410,741 
20,087,504 
16,529,162 
16.695,955 
14.311,043 
15.704,822 
14.670.346 
13,379.013 
13,150,175 

.« 1,357, 144 

1888              

1,380,666 

1889                                       .              -- 

368,048 

1890                        - 

384,200 

1891              

401,264 

1892                                   -                         - 

561,333 

1893                  .  .              ------  

608,092 

1894            

1,064,521 

1895                                                                    -.-   - 

1,000,235 

1896                                                     

1,180,793 

1897     .       .-  -  --- 

1,918,269 

1898 - 

2,376,420 

1899                                                                    -  -  

2,660,793 

1900              -       -                     - 

4,152,928 

1901 --- - 

2.961,102 

1902                                                                           

4,692,189 

7,313,271 

1904 

8,317,809 

9,007,820 

1906 

9,238,020 

16,783,943 

1908 

26,566,181 

32,398,187 

1910       -                   .                                                     .       -       -   - 

37,089,542 

40,552,088 

1912 

41,868,344 

48,578.014 

1914 .       

47,487,109 

1915 

43,503,837 

1916 

57.421,.334 

86,976,209 

1918 -- 

127,459,221 

142,610,563 

1920.-- 

178,394,937 

1921--- 

203,138,225 

1922 -                     ...                

173,381.265 

1923 

242.731,309 

1924 

274,652.874 

$3,470,395,816 

$628,747,742 

$1,883,138,099 

16 


:MIXEUAL    IXDISTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  TWO. 
FUELS. 

Among  the  most  iinpoitaiit  mineral  piotliR-ts  of  California  are  its 
fuels.  This  subdivision  includes  coal,  natural  ga.s.  and  petroleum,  the 
combined  values  of  which  made  up  77' r  of  the  state's  entire  mineral 
output  for  the  year  1924. 

There  are  deposits  of  peat  known  in  several  localities  in  California, 
small  amounts  of  which  are  used  as  a  fertilizer,  and  in  stock-food 
preparations,  but  none  has  yet  been  recorded  as  utilized  for  fuel. 

Comparison  of  values  during  1923  and  1924  is  shown  in  the  following 
table : 


1923 

1924 

Increase-l- 
Decrease — 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Value 

Coal 

\attiralgas 

Petroleum 

1,010  tons 
240,405.397  M  eu.ft. 
262.875,690  bbls.       , 

15,090 

15,661,433  , 

242,731,309  : 

1,425  tons 
209,921.596  Meu=ft. 
228.933,471  bbls. 

$8,800 

15,153,140 

274,652,874 

$3,710+ 

.508,293— 

31.921,565+ 

1 

$258,397,832 

$289,814,814 

Net  increai-e 

""  "                               1 

$31,416,982+ 

,                          1 

COAL. 

Bibliography:  State  IMineralosrist  Eeports  VII.  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII.  XIX-XXI  (inc. ).  U.  S.  Geol.  Siiry..  Bulletins  285,  316, 
131,  171,  5bl ;  An.  Rpt.  22,  Pt.  III. 

Coal  production  in  California  in  1921  totaled  only  1125  tons  valued 
at  $8,800,  being  credited  to  Amador,  ^Mendocino.  Riverside,  San  Benito, 
Shasta,  and  Siskiyou  counties.  Only  a  small  part  of  it  was  marketed, 
as  it  was  mainly  consumed  for  local  camp  purposes  and  for  power  and 

forge  use  in  development  work  on  the  depasits. 

Total   Coal   Production   of  California. 

The  very  considerable  output  of  coal  in  the  years  previous  to  ,1883 
was  almost  entirely  from  the  Blount  Diablo  district.  Contra  Costa 
County.  Later  the  Tesla  mine  in  Corral  Hollow,  Alameda  County, 
was  an  important  producer  for  a  few  j-ears.  Stone  Canyon,  Monterey 
County,  was  also  an  important  producer  for  a  short  time,  and  there 
has  been  some  coal  shipped  from  properties  in  Amador,  Fresno,  Orange, 
Riverside  and  Siskiyou  counties.  The  following  tabulation  gives  the 
annual  tonnages  and  values,  accordins:  to  available  records : 


STATISTICS    OF    AXNUAI.    PRODUCTION. 
Coal   Output  and   Value   by  Years. 


17 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1861     -  -  .- 

6,620 

23,400 

43,200 

50.700 

60,530 

84,020 

124,690 

143,676 

157,234 

141,890 

152,493 

190,859 

186,611 

215,352 

166,638 

128,049 

107,789 

134,237 

147,879 

236,950 

140,000 

112,592 

76,162 

77,485 

71,615 

100,000 

50,000 

95,000 

121,280 

110,711 

93,301 

85.178 

72,603 

$38,065 
134,550 
248,400 
291,525 
348,048 
483,115 
716,968 
826,137 
904,096 
815,868 
876,835 
1,097,439 
1.073,013 
1,238,274 
958,169 
736,282 
619,787 
771.863 
850,304 
1,362,463 
805,000 
647,404 
380,810 
309,950 
286.460 
300,000 
150,000 
380,000 
288,232 
283,019 
204,902 
209.711 
167,555 

1894  .      .... 

59,887 

79,858 

70,649 

87,449 

143,045 

160,941 

176,956 

150,724 

88,460 

93.026 

79,062 

46,500 

24,850 

23,734 

18,496 

49,389 

11,033 

11,047 

14,484 

25,198 

11,859 

10,299 

4,037 

3,527 

6,343 

2.983 

2,078 

12.467 

27,020 

1,010 

1,425 

$139,862 

1862.. - 

1895 

193,790 

1863 

1896 

161,335 

1864 

1897 

196,255 

1865 

1898 

337,475 

1866 

1899 

420,109 

1867    

1900 

535  531 

1868. 

1901 

401,772 

1869 

1902 

248,622 

1870 

1903 

265,383 

1871 

1904  .... 

376,494 

1872 

1905 

144,500 

1873 

1906 

61,600 

1874 

1907 

55,849 

1875 

1908 

55,503 

1876 

1909.. 

216,913 

1877.- 

1910 

23  484 

1878 

1911 

18,297 

1879-.  

1912 

39,092 

1880 

1913 

85,809 

1881 

1914 

28,806 

1882. 

1915 

26,662 

1883 

1916.. 

7,030 

1884 . 

1917 

7.691 

1885 

1918 

16,149 

1886 

1919 

8,203 

1887.. 

1920 

5  450 

1888 

1921 

63,578 

1889 

1922 

135,100 

1890 

1923.. 

5,090 

1891.. 

1924 

8,800 

1892 

Totals 

1893 

5,206,580 

$23,094,478 

The  tonnages  in  the  above  table  for  the  years  1861-1S86  (incl.)  are  taken  from  the 
U.  S.  GeolOKical  Survey.  "Mineral  Resources  of  the  U.  S..  1910."  p.  107.  The  values 
assigned  for  the  years  previous  to  1883  are  those  given  by  W.  A.  Goodvear  (Min- 
eral Res.,  1882,  pp.  93-94).  being  an  average  of  $5.75  per  ton.  From  1887  to  date 
the  figures  are   those  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau. 

NATURAL  GAS. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Report.s  YII.  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
Bulletins  3,  16,  19,  69,  73,  89.  Monthly  Summary.  Oil  &  Gas 
Supervisor,  Dec.  1919;  Aug.  1922;  Mar.  1923. 

Statistics  on  the  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  are  in  a  con- 
siderable degree  difficult  to  arrive  at,  as  much  of  it  that  is  utilized 
directly  at  the  wells  for  heating,  lighting,  and  driving  gas  engines  is 
not  measured.  Hence,  it  is  necessary  to  approximate  the  output  of 
many  of  the  operators  in  the  oil  fields,  estimated  on  the  number  of 
lights,  and  on  the  number  and  horsepower  of  gas  engines  and  steam 
boilers  thus  operated.  The  figure.s  here  given  are  for  gas  utilized 
locally  and  also  that  sold  for  distribution  to  consumers;  and  we  con- 
sider are  not  over-e.stimated,  particularly  in  the  six  oil-producing 
counties.  It  must  be  remembered  tliat  several  of  our  important  oil 
fields  are  removed  many  miles  from  the  site  of  any  other  industry,  and 
tliat  the  gathering  of  small  amounts  of  gas  and  transporting  it  for  any 
considerable  di.stance  may  not  always  be  profitaI)le.  nor  is  it  often 
possible  to  have  pipe-line  facilities  availal)le  to  handle  the  gas  accom- 
panying the  early  gas  production  in  newly  developed  fields.    Wherever 

2—41922 


18  MINERAL    IxnrSTRY    Ol'    (  AIJ  l-OKX  lA. 

fea.sihk',  casiiiy-lR'jul  ^as  is  iiscd  in  (li-iviii>i-  uas  ciiuiiics  for  i)iiiii[)iii<,'  and 
drillin<>',  and  in  firing-  the  hoilcis  of  steam  driven  plants. 

Tlie  most  notable  yas  developiiK'nts  in  (California  in  recent  years  have 
been  in  the  Klk  Hills  and  Bnena  Vista  Hills  in  Kern  Connty,  north- 
east of  the  Midway  district,  and  in  the  new  oil  fields  in  the  Los  Angeles 
basin,  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties.  The  yield  of  natural  gas  in 
tlie  last-named  district  increased  many  fold  in  1923  over  that  of  1922, 
the  amount  actually  utilized  being  six  times  that  of  the  preceding 
3'ear.  Lack  of  sufficient  pipe-lines  and  other  facilities  to  handle  such 
an  enormous  increase  made  it  impossible  to  prevent  large  quantities 
going  to  waste  into  the  air. 

Production   and   Value. 

There  is  rather  a  wide  variation  in  prices  (pioted  for  natural  gas 
because  a  considerable  part  is  used  directly  in  the  field  for  driving 
gas  engines  and  tiring  boilers,  and  is  therefore  not  measured  nor  sold. 
Such  companies  as  have  placed  a  valuation  on  the  gas  that  was  thus  used 
in  192-4  gave  from  3f-2o^  per  1000  cubic  feet,  at  the  well.  From  the 
totals  shown  in  the  tabulation  following  herein,  the  average  value  for  all 
fields  in  1924  works  out  at  approximately  7.2(^.  Approximately  7000 
cubic  feet  of  gas  is  equal  to  one  barrel  of  oil  in  heating  value,  and  is  so 
accounted  for  by  many  operators.  In  driving  gas  engines,  about  4000 
eu.  ft.  per  24  hr.  are  consiuned  by  a  25-h.p.  engine  and  63,700  cu.  ft. 
per  day  for  heating  a  70-h.p.  steam  boiler,  which  figures  have  been  util- 
ized in  compiling  this  report,  in  those  cases  where  gas  was  not  metered. 

Natural   Gas   'Consumed,'   or   Utilized   for   Fuel,   1924. 

County  M  cu.  ft.  Value 

Fresno 1,430,708  $102,286 

Kern    ■ 47,881,308  2,522,551 

Kings    1,480  725 

Los  Angeles 122,838,521  9,191,395 

Orange 29,812,139  2,397,813 

Santa  Barbara 1,643,355  158,836 

Tulare 1,080  540 

Ventura     5,995,760  633,352 

Butte,     Humboldt,     Lake,     Mendocino,     Sacramento,     San 

.loaquin,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Sutter,  Yuba* 317,245  145,642 


Totals 209,921,596  ?15,153,140 

*  Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  above  totals  for  1924  compare  with  240.405,397  ^l  cu.  ft.,  valued 
at  $15,661,433  in  1923  which  year  was  nearly  2^  times  the  quantity 
and  more  than  double  the  value  of  1922. 

The  1923  total  of  quantity  was  approximately  one-half  of  the  pre- 
viously recorded  total  for  California  for  the  years  1888-1922  inclusive; 
and  the  ,1923  total  of  value  equaled  41','  of  the  total  value  for  the  same 
period.  This  was  due  to  remarkalile  increases  in  the  Los  Angeles  and 
Orange  County  fields.  In  1924,  the  quantities  of  natural  gas  utilized 
in  those  two  counties  decreased ;  Kern  and  Ventura  counties  showed 
increases. 

The  compiled  figures  for  1924  received  from  two  of  the  larger  agen,- 
cies  handling  natural  gas  and  natural-gas  gasoline,  total  somewhat 
higher  than  the  aggregate  of  the  data  received  direct  by  the  State 
Alining  Bureau  from  the  separate  plants  and  operators.  Assuming  that 
our  list  of  operators  may  have  lacked  .some  names,  from  whom  we  there- 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL    l^RODUCTION. 


19 


l)\-  lackt'd  returns,  we  li;i\r  tjikc?)  ;iii  ;i\('r;ii;('  ol'  llicsc  scNcral  sets  ol' 
figures  as  the  basis  for  the  present  repoi-t.  Conipai'ed  with  192:^,  there 
was  a  decrease  in  Los  Anyeh^s  (!onnt_v  in  the  amount  of  gas  eonsunied, 
owing  to  the  decline  of  oil  production  in  the  older  of  the  new  fields. 

There  was  an  increase  in  gasoline  recovered  from  natural  gas  because 
in  the  newest  two  fields  (Rosecrans  and  Dominguez)  there  was  a  large 
How  of  gas  but  no  pipe  line  facilities  for  conveying  it  to  the  consuming 
centers.  In  this  case,  the  gasoline  was  'squeezed"  out  of  a  portion  and 
the  dry  gas  blown  into  the  air  unconsunied. 

Natural   Gas   Production   in   California,  Since  1888. 

The  production  of  natural  gas  in  California  by  years  since  1888  is 
given  in  the  following  table.  The  first  economic  use  of  natural  gas  in 
California  was  from  the  famous  Court  House  well  at  Stockton,  bored 
in  1854-1858.  Beginning  about  1883  and  for  several  succeeding  years, 
a  number  of  gas  wells  were  brought  in  around  Stockton.  Natural  gas 
was  known  in  a  number  of  other  localities,  and  occasionally  utilized  in 
a  small  way,  notably  at  Kelseyville  in  Lake  County,  and  in  Humboldt 
County  near  Petrolia  and  Eureka,  but  there  are  no  available  authentic 
records  of  amounts  or  values  previous  to  the  year  1888.  The  most 
important  developments  in  the  commercial  production  of  natural  gas 
have  been  coincident  -with  developments  in  the  oil  fields,  by  utilizing 
the  casing-head  gas  as  well  as  that  from  dry-gas  wells. 


Tear 


M  cubic  leet 


1889. 
1890, 
1891. 
1892. 
1893 . 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
lfX)3 . 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 


n2,00G 

"14,500 

M1.250 

"39,000 

"75,000 

"84,000 

"  "85,080 

«  "110,800 

"  "131,100 

"71,300 

"111.165 

115.110 

40,566 

120.800 

120,968 

120,134 

144,437 

148,345 

168,175 


Value 


$10,000 
12,680 
33,000 
30,000 
55,000 
68,500 
79,072 

112,000 

111,457 
62,657 
74,424 
95,000 
34,578 

■92,034 
99,443 
75,237 
91,035 

102,479 
$109,489 


Year 


M  cubic  feet 


1907 169.991 

1908 &42,883 

1909 1,148,467 

1910 10,579,933 

1911 "5,000,000 

1912 "12.600,000 

1913 14,210,836 

1914 16,529,963 

1915 21,992,892 

1916 28,134,365 

1917 44,343,020 

1918 46,373,052 

1919 52,173,503 

1920 58,567,772 

1921 67,043,797 

1922 103,628,027 

1923 240.405,397 

Ht24 209,921,596 


Value 


$114,759 

474,584 

616,932 

1,676,367 

491.859 

940,076 

1,053,292 

1,U49.470 

1,706,480 

2,871,751 

2,964,922 

3,289,524 

4,041,217 

3,898,286 

4,704,678 

6,990,030 

15,661,433 

15,153,140 


Totals 935,419,224    $69,046,885 


•Quantity,  in  part,  estimated,  where  values  only  were  reported. 
"Includes  natural  CO2  from  a  mine  in  Santa  Clara  County. 


Gasoline   From    Natural   Gas. 

More  or  less  ga.s  usually  accompanies  the  petroleum  in  the  oil  fields, 
and  such  gas  carries  varying  amounts  of  gasoline.  A  total  of  137  i)lants 
were  in  operation  in  1924  recovering  ga.soline  l)y  compression  or  ai)sorp- 
tion  from  this  'casing-head'  gas.  After  the  gasoline  is  extracted  the 
remaining  'dry  gas*  so  far  as  possible  is  taken  into  pipe  lines,  by  which  it 
is  distributed  to  consumers,  both  dniiiestic  and  commercial. 


20  MINERAL    IXDrSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Ill  tile  Mitlway  field,  some  <»i'  the  easiug-head  gasoline  is  obtained  as 
au  incidental  product  to  the  compressing  of  the  natural  gas  preliminary 
to  transmission  through  the  gas  pipe  lines.  Some  concerns  market 
casing-head  gasoline  soparately  while  others  turn  it  into  the  oil  pipe 
lines,  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  with  the  crude  oil  for 
transportation  to  the  refinery,  where  it  is  later  regained.  A  total  of 
228,781.000  gallons  of  casing-head  gasoline  valued  at  $22,269,955  from 
all  fields  was  reported  by  82  operators  (137  ])lants).  as  made  during 
1924.  This  compares  with  156.263,015  gallons  and  $13,197,578  by  87 
operators  in  .1923.    It  was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 

Natural   Gas  Gasoline   Recovered.  1924. 

Xo. 

County                                                                               Plants  Gallons  Value 

Fresno 2  590.370  $53,431 

Kern 33  43,045.434  4.895,828 

Los   Angeles    65  124.883.000  11.575,000 

Orange 26  47.166,640  4,468,627 

Santa  Barbara 4  7,023,891  702,390 

Ventura   7  6,072.465  574,679 

Totals 137  228,781,800  §22,269,955 

The  usual  recoveries  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  vary  from  ^  gal. 
to  3  gal.  per  1000  cu.  ft.  of  gas  handled,  the  average  being  about  1  sral. 
per  1000  cu.  ft. 

PETROLEUM. 

BihUographij :  State  :Miueralo£rist  Reports  IV.  VII.  X.  XII.  XIII. 
Bulletins  3.  11.  16.  19.  31.  32,  63.  69,  73.  82.  84.  89.  Reports  of 
Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  1915  to  date  (is.sued  in  montlily  chai)ters 
since  April.  1919/.  U.  S.  Oeol.  Surv..  Bulletins  213."  28o.  309. 
317.  321,  322.  340.  357.  398.  406.  431,  471.  451.  581.  603,  621. 
623,  653,  691:  Prof.  Papers,  116,  117.  ''American  Petroleum: 
Sujiply  and  Demand":  Amer.  Petr.  Inst.,  1925. 

The  crude  oil  production  of  California  for  1924  amounted  to  a  total 
of  228.933,471  barrels  of  clean  oil.  valued  at  $274,652,874  at  the  well. 
This  total  of  quantity  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  production  reports 
filed  by  the  operators  with  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  to  which 
have  been  added  figures  for  the  output  of  a  number  of  small  operators 
in  the  Los  Angeles  city  field  not  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Super- 
vi.sor. 

The  question  of  the  value  of  the  crude  oil  yield,  at  the  well,  is  a  diffi- 
cult one  to  settle  with  exactitude,  principally  because  a  large  part  of 
the  output  is  not  sold  until  after  refining.  The  large  refiners  are  also 
large  producers  of  crude  oil  Avhich  they  send  direct  from  well  to  plant, 
hence  much  of  the  crude  is  not  sold  as  such.  The  values  used  in  the 
statistical  reports  of  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau  since  1914  have  been 
derived  from  averages  of  actual  sales  of  crude  oil  of  all  grades  in  each 
field  of  the  state,  and  these  averages  applied  to  the  total  yield  of  the 
respective  fields.  This  we  feel  is  a  safer  measure  of  commercial  values 
than  market  quotations,  becau.se  quotations  do  not  always  mean  sales. 

Features  of  1924. 

The  noteworthy  features  of  the  year  1924  in  the  oil  industry  of  Cali- 
fornia were  the  decrease  in  gusher  production  in  the  new  fields  in  the 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


21 


Los  Angeles  Basin,  and  the  increase  in  the  market  value  per  barrel  for 
crudes.  Quantities  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties  decreased, 
while  Fresno.  Kern,  and  Ventura  registered  material  increases.  In 
Fresno  and  Kern  counties,  much  of  the  shut-in  production  was  again 
opened  up  and  drilling  activity  also  resumed.  There  were  two  increases 
in  192-4  in  prices  quoted  for  crude  oil  at  the  well  announced  by  the 
marketing  companies :  one.  February  5  aft'ecting  all  grades ;  and  the 
other,  September  24  for  high-gravity  crude  in  the  new  Rosecrans  field. 
Estimating  in  January  the  output  of  the  year  just  closed,  the  State 
Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor^  presented  the  following  observations: 

"The  production  of  oil  in  California  in  1924  was  230,045,000  barrels,  according  to 
statistics  of  the  American  Petroleum  Institute,  including  estimates  for  the  month  of 
December.     This  is  33,683,895  barrels  less  than  was  produced  in  1923. 

"An  analysis  of  the  increases  and  decreases  in  the  various  parts  of  the  State  is  of 
value  in  showing  the  effect  of  decline  just  following  the  flush  period  of  some  fields, 
partly  offset  by  the  development  of  new  fields  and  the  resumption  of  closed-in 
production   in   some  of  the  older  fields. 

"The  greatest  declines  were  in  the  Santa  Fe  Springs,  Huntington  Beach  and  Long 
Beach  fields,  which  produced  78.964,000  barrels  less  in  1924  than  in  1923,  distributed 
as  follows:  Santa  Fe  Springs,  53,385,000;  Huntington  Beach,  16,863,000;  Long  Beach, 
8,716,000. 

"The  decline  was  partly  offset  by  an  increase  of  45,283,000  barrels  in  other  fields, 
the  fields  of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  producing  19,677,000  barrels  more  in  1924,  both 
from  new  wells  and  from  wells  shut  down  during  all  or  part  of  1923  :  Torrance  and 
the  new  fields  Dominguez  and  Rosecrans  contributing  increased  production  as  follows  : 
Torrance  14,377,000  barrels,  Dominguez  6,623,000  barrels,  Rosecrans  620,000  barrels; 
the  Coyote  Hills  field,  pi-actically  shut  down  during  part  of  1923,  contributing 
3,206,000  barrels  more  in  1924  than  in  1923  ;  and  miscellaneous  780,000  barrels." 

Outlook  for  1925. 

It  is  difficult  to  predict,  as  yet.  for  1925.  Lacking  the  opening  up  of 
any  new  field,  it  appears  thus  far  that  the  output  for  the  current  year 
will  probably  be  less  in  total  quantity  than  the  year  ,1924,  due  largely  to 
the  decline  in  the  Los  Angeles  Basin  fields. 

Production   Figures. 

The  following  table  gives  the  production  and  value  by  counties  for 
]924:,  compared  with  the  1923  figures: 

TABLE   A. 
Production  and  Value  of  Crude  Oil,  by  Counties. 


County 


Fresno 

Kern 

Lo8  .\ngeles 

Orange 

San  Luis  Obispo 

.Santa  Barbara 

Santa  Clara 

Ventura 

San  Mateo  and  Santa  Clara» 

San  Bernardino  and  San  Mateo''. 


Totals. 


1923 


Barrels 


5.061.542 

45,952.794 

158,665,019 

46,474,921 

32,988 

3,061,947 


Value 


$3,593,695 
37.629,300 
154.063,733 
40,897,930 
19,793 
2,394,433 


.3,610,794  I  4,109,084 

15,685  23,341 


Barrels 


156,405 
175,405 
027.428 
661,283 

31,222 
905,181 

14,417 
958,010 


4,120 


262,875,690       $242,731,309         228,933.471 


Value 


?1 1.801,743 

69,572.934 

147,474.953 

37,455,298 

30,972 

3,009,768 

20.481 

5,279,985 


6,740 


$274,652,874 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  San  Mateo  County. 
•'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


'Bush.  R.  D.,  Weekly  press  bulletin.   No.   481,  Dept.   of  Petr.   and  Gas,  Cal.   State 
Min.  Bur.,  Jan.   10,  1925. 


22 


MINERAL    INPT-STHY    OF    CALIFOKNIA. 


The  foregoing  totals  show  a  state  average  price  of  !i<1.200  per  barrel 
for  the  year  1924,  as  compared  to  $-0,923  in  1923  and  $1,249  in  1922. 

TABLE    B. 
Average   Price  of  Oil  per  Barrel,   by  Counties,  1915-1924. 


County 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

$0,452 
.409 
.550 
.675 

$0  545 
.423 
.629 
.512 

SO  516 
.Ml 
.651 
.663 
.450 
.794 
.666 
1.045 

$0,825 

.893 

1.176 

i.oa3 

.926 

.808 

1.387 

1.318 

$1,191 
1  252 
1.340 
1  412 
.905 
1.235 
1.700 
1.480 

$1,293 
1  350 
1  380 
1  860 
1.040 
1.125 
1.600 
1.635 

$1  483 

1  714 
1.532 

2  138 
1  400 
1  575 
1.485 
2.507 

$1,068 
1.211 
1  403 
1  175 
0.942 
1.011 
1  616 
1.785 

$1,710 
0.819 
0.971 
0.880 
0.600 
0  782 
1.40* 
1.138 

$1  162 

Kern                 

1   137 

Los  Angeles 

1.239 
1.183 

0.992 

Santa  Barbara _ 

Santa  Clara 

Ventura _ 

.460 

.530 

1.050 

.611 
.666 
.855 

1  036 
1  921 
1  334 

State  avenige 

$0,461 

$0,479 

$0,636 

$0,908 

$1,278 

$1,409 

$1,726 

$1,249 

$0,923 

$1,200 

For  several  years  previous  to  1919.  the  state  average  value  per  barrel 
at  the  well  for  crude  oil  as  determined  by  the  statistical  returns  was 
noted  to  practically  coincide  A\"ith  the  quotations  during  the  same  yeai-s 
for  23°  gravity  oil  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  fields.  ,  In  1919  and 
since,  the  average  values  have  worked  out  at  figures  corresponding  to 
quotations  up  to.  in  one  year  as  high  as  28'  oil.  due  to  the  large  yield 
of  high-gravity  oils  from  the  new  fields  in  the  Los. Angeles-Orange 
counties  area. 


TOTAL  PETROLEUM  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

The  presence  of  oil  seepages  and  .springs  in  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura 
counties  was  known  and  utilized  in  a  small  way  early  in  the  history  of 
California.  Some  also  was  shipped  to  refineries  at  San  Francisco 
from  Santa  Barbara  and  Humboldt  counties.  In  the  light  of  present- 
day  developments,  the  following  reference  to  the  previous  year's  pro- 
duction of  oil  and  its  future  prospects  as  expressed  by  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Bulletin  of  January'  8,  1866,  is  strikingly  prophetic  even  though 
skeptical : 

"It  is  possible  that  the  small  quantity  received  (40,000  or  50,000  gallons  in  1865) 
may  be  the  forerunner  of  many  millions  which  will,  at  some  future  time,  lubricate 
the  wheels  of  commerce  and  set  a  trade  at  work  excelling  in  variety  any  that  has 
thus  far  been  known  on  this  coast.  At  present,  however,  we  admit  to  being  a  little 
skeptical  about  the  assumption  of  the  astute  Professor  Silliman  that  California  will 
be  found  to  have  more  oil  in  its  soil  than  all  the  whales  in  the  Pacific  Ocean." 

According  to  Hanks. ^  in  1S74  production  amounted  to  36  bbl.  per 
day  from  natural  flows  in  Pico  Caiion  (Newhall),  and  at  Sulphur 
^Mountain  (Ventura  County),  the  oil  being  of  32°  gravity  average. 

=  "Work  was  commenced  in  Pico  Canon  in  1S75.  bv  drilling  three  shallow  wells  with 
spring  pole,  all  of  which  yielded  oil  at  depths  of  from  90  to  250  feet.  Actual  work 
of  development  commenced  with  steam  machinery   in   1S7T." 

In  1877  Pico  averaged  40-50  bbl.  daily,  and  Ventura  80  bbl.  daily. 
In  1878.  there  was  some  production  (@  60  bbl.  per  day,  for  a  time) 
from  wells  in  Moody  Gulch,  near  Los  Gatos.  Santa  Clara  County,  the 
oil  being  of  46'  Baume. 

The  first  wells  in  the  Coalinga.  Fresno  County,  and  Summerland. 
Santa  Barl)ara  County,  fields  were  drilled  in  1890,  but  Coalinga  did 
not  make  its  influence  felt  con.spicuously  on  the  state's  annual  output 

iHanks,  Henry  G.,  Report  IV  of  State  Mineralogist,  p.  298,  1884. 
'Ideni,  p.  301. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


23 


until  1903.  The  Summerland  yield  never  has  been  large.  The  Salt 
Lake  field  near  Los  Angeles  began  production  in  1894  and  in  1897 
reached  over  a  million  barrels  annually. 

In  the  Kern  County  fields,  the  first  well  was  drilled  in  Sunset  in 
1891,  Midway  in  1900,  MeKittriek  in  1892,  Kern  River  in  1899.  The 
Sunset-]\Iidway  district  attained  a  yield  of  over  4,000,000  bbl.  in  1909, 
and  over  20,000,000  ])1)1.  in  1910.  Kern  River  field  produced  over 
3,000,000  bbl.  in  1901. 

The  first  well  in  the  Santa  Maria-Lompoc  group,  Santa  Barbara 
County,  was  drilled  in  1901,  and  the  district  advanced  to  a  yield  of 
over  3,000.000  bbl.  annually  in  1905. 

The  Whittier-FuUerton  field  in  Los  Angeles  and  Orange  counties 
became  an  important  factor  in  1902.  The  Montebello  field,  Los 
Angeles  County,  was  the  conspicuous  addition  in  1918-1919;  and  Elk 
Hills,  Kern  County,  with  Huntington  Beach  and  Richfield,  Orange 
County,  in  1920.  In  1921,  the  new  fields  added  were  Long  Beach  and 
Santa  Fe  Springs,  Los  Angeles  County;  in  1922,  Torrance  field  in 
Los  Angeles  County,  and  Wheeler  Ridge  field  in  Kern  County ;  but  the 
production  from  the  large  number  of  new  wells  started  in  these  new 
Los  Angeles  County  fields  did  not  reach  its  peak  until  August  and 
September,  1923.  Doiiiinguez  (Compton)  came  in  during  1923;  fol- 
lowed by  Roseerans  and  Inglewood  in  1924. 

The  effect  of  the  advent  of  these  various  fields  to  the  producing 
colunui  will  be  noted  in  the  tabulation  herewith,  by  years : 


TABLE   C. 
Total    Petroleum    Production    in    California. 


Year 

Barrels 

Value 

Year 

Barrels 

Value 

To  and  inc.  1875 

(a)  175,000 

12,000 

13,000 

15,227 

19,858 

40,552 

99,862 

128.636 

142,857 

262,000 

325,000 

(a)  377,145 

678,572 

690,333 

303.220 

307,360 

323,600 

385,049 

470,179 

783,078 

1,245,339 

1,257,780 

1,911.569 

2.249.088 

2,677,875 

4,329.950 

(b)  $472,500 

30,000 

29,250 

30,454 

39,716 

60,828 

124,828 

2.57,272 

285,714 

655,000 

7.50,750 

(b)  870,205 

1,357.144 

1,. 380,666 

368,048 

384,200 

401,264 

561,333 

608,092 

1,064,521 

1,000,235 

1.180,793 

1,918,269 

2,376,420 

2.660,793 

4,152,928 

1901 

7,710,315 

14,356,910 

24,340,839 

29,736,003 

34,275,701 

32,624,000 

40  311,171 

48,306,910 

58.191.723 

77,697,568 

84,648.157 

89.689,250 

98,494,532 

102,881,907 

91,146,620 

90,262,557 

95,396,309 

99,731,177 

101,182,962 

103,377,361 

112,599,860 

138,468,222 

262.875.690 

228,933,471 

.«2,961,102 
4,692,189 
7  313  271 

1876 

1902- - 

1903 

1904 

1877  -- 

1878 

8,317  809 

1879 

1905- -. 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915- 

1916 

1917.  

9,007,820 

1880 

1881 -- 

1882    

9,238,020 
16,783,943 
26  566  181 

1883   -.- 

32,398,187 
.37,689,542 

1884 - 

1885  --  . 

40  552  088 

1886 - 

41,868,344 

1887    

48  578  014 

1888  - 

47,487,109 

1889 -- 

43,.503,837 

1890  -  - 

.57,421,334 

1891 -.. 

86,976,209 

1892 

1918 

127  459  221 

1893  - 

1919  

142,610  563 

1894 

1920 

178,394,937 

1895  

1921 

203,138,225 

1896 --  ... 

1922  -  

173,381,265 

1897 .  . 

1923- -.  -- 

242,731,309 

1898  

1924 

274. 6.52. <S74 

1899 

Totals 

1900 

2,086,463.344 

$1,886,744,622 

»  U.  S.  O.  S.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1886.  p.  440.  for  quantities  to  and  including  188^. 

''Values  have  been  estimated  for  the  years  to  and  including  1886.  after  consulting 
a  number  of  contemporaneous  pulilications.  including  the  Mining  &  Scientific  Press, 
Reports  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  and  U.  S.  Reports.  The  figures  for  18S7  to  date 
are   from  records  of  the  State   Mining  Bureau. 


24 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Well   Data. 

The  following  table  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  statements  issued 
by  the  American  Petroleum  Institute : 

TABLE    D. 
Well   Operations,   by   Fields,  1924. 


Wells 
producing 
Dec..  1923 

Wells 
producing 
Dec..  1924 

Wells 

comirieted 

during 

year 

Daily 
initial 
output 

Wells 

abandoned 

during 

year 

Barrels 
per  well 
produced 
per  dav 
Dec.,  1923 

Barrels 
per  wdl 
produced 
per  day 
De«m924 

Kern  RiTer 

2.143 

284 

2,322 

86 

243 

733 

7 

6 

293 

135 

544 

6.34 

179 

.386 

107 

307 

116 

177 

265 

329 

99 

1 

2.158 

295 

2.940 

261 

316 

1,053 

13 

6 

301 

135 

566 

396 

178 

389 

231 

354 

160 

177 

298 

525 

510 

38 

17 

2 

10 

19-1 
54 

238 

50 

51,324 

19.537 

io" 

14 

5 
14 
26 

I 

7.4 

20.3 

33.3 

237.5 

14  5 

23.0 

96.3 

9.5 

26.2 

1.1 

16.7 

5.0 

10.8 

29  3 

22.7 

581.4 

91.4 

81.0 

252.7 

690.5 

317.2 

1,282.0 

8  3 

McKittrick 

Midwav-Sunset 

19.5 
36.2 
144  5 

Lost  Hills-Bdridge 

15.6 

Coalinga 

Wheeler  Ridge 

Watsonville      . 

14 

7 

872 
l.»4 

23.7 
68.0 
9.5 

.Santa  Maria-Lomooc...     

3 

24.8 

Siimmeriand         

1.1 

Ventura-Newhall 

liTfi  .Vngdfls-falt  T.a!!e 

21 

8,875 

17 
179 

1 

1 

1 

43 

5 

6 

27 

60 

26 

20  6 
5.4 

Whitrier 

11.0 

Fullerton 

Coyote 

."^anta  Fe  Springs 

Mod  tebello 

Riclif=.eld 

Htintiogton  Beach- 

2 
3 
75 

7 

7 

55 

195 

531 

41 

21 

2 

339 

2.175 

21,562 

1,335 

1,954 

10,262 

114,969 

169.399 

87,074 

17,330 

365 

29.6 
88.0 
143.1 
109.3 
65.0 
140  8 

Long  Beach 

239  2 

Torrance  (Redondo) 

88  1 

r)«miiipiip7  fPompton) 

1393  1 

RrK«>Tans» 

449  3 

50.5 

MfcirellaneoTTS  drilling       

42 

Totals 

9.396 

11,319 

1,238 

508,944 

488 

'75.2 

'53.6 

»Began  producing  May,  1924. 
''B^an  producing  September,  1924. 
'State  average. 

Specific  Gravities  of  Oils  Produced. 

The  proportion  of  heavy  and  light  oil  produced  in  the  various  fields 
is  shown  in  Table  E.  following,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company.  Under  present  practice,  oil  below  ,18=  Baume 
may  be  considered  as  largely  refinable  for  fuel  oil  and  lubricants,  while 
the  lighter  oils  yield  vaiying  amounts  of  the  higher  refined  products 
with  corresponding  proportions  of  residuum  and  fuel  oil.  Specific 
gravities  in  California  range  from  8=  Baume  in  the  Casmalia  field. 
Santa  Barbara  County,  to  56=  Baume  in  Ventura  County. 

California  crude  oils  are  all  essentially  of  asphalt  base,  with  a  few- 
notable  exceptions.  In  the  following  localities  are  wells  yielding  crudes 
containing  both  a.sphalt  and  paraffine  constituents :  Oil  City  field.  Coal- 
inga :  a  few  deep  wells  in  East  Side  field.  Coalinga :  a  considerable  part 
of  the  Ventura  County  fields:  "Western  ]\Iinerals  area,  south  of  ^lari- 
copa :  Wheeler  Ridge.  Kem  County. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


25 


TABLE   E. 

Production  of  Light  and  Heavy  Oil,  by  Fields,  1924. 


Under  18° 
(barrels) 


18°  and  over 
(barreLs) 


Total 
(barrels) 


Kern  River 

McKittrick... 

Midway-Sunset 

Elk  Hills 

Lost  HiHs-Belridge 

Coalinga.- 

Wheeler  Ridge 

WatsonviUe 

Santa  Maria 

Summerland 

Ventura-Newhall 

Los  Angeles-Salt  Lake. 

Whittier-Fullerton 

Santa  Fe  Springs 

Huntington  Beach 

Ijong  Beach 

Torrance 

Dominguez 

Rosecrans 

Inglewood 

Miscellaneods 


6,711,983 
2,121,444 
10,960,061 
1,302,151 
503.369 
4,257.606 


23,790 

1,806,530 

51.215 

48.369 

900.813 

516,517 


551,617 

967,098 

1,893,734 


3,000 
9,602 


26,978.031 

12,303,888 

1,033  Oil 

5,802,018 

342.420 


1,116,645 


4,005.116 

25,154 

20,881,171 

26.467,271 

17,014.955 

59.148,258 

15.656,935 

6,841,981 

612.746 

7,445 

7.618 


6,711,983 

2,121,444 

37,938,092 

13,606,039 

1,536,380 

10,059.624 

342,420 

23,790 

2,923,175 

51.215 

4,053,485 

925,967 

21.397.688 

26.467,271 

17,566.572 

60,115,356 

17.550,669 

6.841.981 

612,746 

10.445 

17,220 


Totals. 


32,628,899 


198,244,663 


230,873,562 


As  previously  noted  by  the  Avriter.^  a  decided  change  has  taken  place 
in  the  relative  proportions  of  light  and  heavy  crudes  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia since  1910.  taking  18°  Baume  as  the  clividing  line.  This  subject 
has  also  been  covered  in  detail  and  with  charts,  by  Collom  and  Barnes. - 

A  marked  drop  took  place  in  the  low-gravity  yield  from  1910  to  and 
including  191J:.  From  1914.  it  has  remained  almost  stationary,  with  a 
slight  drop  in  1921,  while  the  high-gravity  yield  has  increased  at  a 
rapid  rate  since  1915.  The  proportions  have  been  reversed  from 
approximately  75*"r  low — 25'  i  high  in  1911  to  25%  low — 75%  high  in 
1921;  10%o  low— 90%  high  in  1923;  and  14%  low— 86%  high  in  1924. 

This  has  been  an  important  factor  in  its  effect  upon  the  average 
price  per  barrel  of  the  state's  output  in  these  years,  as  well  as  its  effect 
upon  the  relative  situation  between  production  and  consumption.  It 
has  been  a  fortunate  development,  in  view  of  the  increased  demand  for 
refinery  products  (gasoline,  in  particular),  and  the  lessened  demand 
for  fuel  oil  owing  in  part  to  the  shutting  down  during  1919-1922  of 
the  western  copper  smelters  which  are  large  consumers  of  California 
fuel  oil. 

Oil   in   'Storage.' 

Field,  refinery,  pipe-line,  and  tank-farm  stocks  of  crude  and  refinery 
products  in  Pacific  Coast  territory  totaled  125.021,964  barrels,^  Decem- 
ber 31.  1924,  compared  with  IK). 727.442  barrels  on  December  31,  3923, 
distributed  as  follows: 

stocks                                                             Dec.  31,  1924  Dec.  31,  1923 

Heavy    Crude,    heavier    than    20°    A.  P.  I.,    including    all  (Barrels)  (Barrels) 

grades   of  fuel 57,254,796  52,393,302 

Refined  Crude,  20°  A.  P.  I.,  and  lighter 40,574,578  36,880,942 

Gasoline 10,957,487  7,696,815 

Naphtha  distillates 9,396,613  13,114,490 

.■\11   other   stocks    6,838,490  6,641,893 

Total  all   storks 125.021,964  116,727,442 

'Bradley,  W.  W.,  Mineral  production  of  California  in  1921:  Cal.  State  Min.  Bur., 
Pveport  XVIII,  p.   442.  Sept.   1922. 

-Collom.  R.  E..  and  Barnes,  R.  M.,  California  oil  production  and  reserves:  Cal. 
State  Min.  Bur.,  Ninth  Ann.  Rep.  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  Aug.,  1923,  pp.  5-23. 

Standard  Oil   Bulletin,  February.    1925.   p.   13. 


26  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Beginning:  with  September,  1924.  the  American  Petroleum  Institute 
ill  reporting  'stocks'  and  'storage'  expanded  their  figures  to  include 
"stocks  of  all  products  held  by  the  principal  marketing  companies  at  all 
l^oints  in  all  the  Pacific  Coast  territory  including  British  Columbia, 
Alaska,  and  Hawaii."  Hence,  the  above  tabulation  is  not  comparable 
with  the  figures  shown  in  our  previous  statistical  reports  which  showed 
stocks  in  California  only. 

Operating   Data. 

The  following  taluilation  (Table  F)  is  compiled  from  data  published 
by  the  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas,^  semiannually,  and  here  com- 
l)ined  to  show  the  entire  year's  operations  for  all  fields.  The  'districts' 
are  the  geographical  subdivisions  as  administered  by  the  Department, 
and  which  are  outlined  on  the  accompanying  map. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  state  average  yield  of  oil  per  well  per  day 
was  68.0  barrels  for  the  first  six  months  of  1924  and  60.4  barrels  for 
the  second.  This  is  somewhat  higher  than  the  figure  of  53.6  barrels 
average  for  December  derived  from  Standard  Oil  Company  data  as 
shown  in  Table  D.  on  a  preceding  page,  due  in  part  at  least,  to  the  fact 
that  the  latter  is  on  a  full-time  basis,  whereas  the  Bureau  figures  allow 
for  shut-down  time. 


Rep 


^Summarv   of   operations,    California    Oil   Fields:    Cal.    State   Min.    Bur.,   Tenth   Ann. 
?p.   of   State   Oil   and    Gas   Supervisor,   Aug.    1924,   pp.    6-7  ;   Feb.    1925,   pp.    8-9. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


27 


CA:.:raRViA  s^rAre  mining  bukkau 

LLOYD  L    ROOT 


OUTLINE  MAP 


(AIJ  FORMA 

APPROXIMATE  LOCATION  of  oil  FIELDS 


Cor^pded   oyRDBushSta 

w  Oil  &  SasSLper.isc 

1  MOODY  6ULCH 

2  SAH»ENT 

21    SESBE 

3  C0ALIN6A 

ZZ  PiRU 

4  DtVILS  DEN 

S  LOST  HILLS 

>  S:ri 

6  BELRI06E 

35  CONEJO 

7WKITTRICK-TEMBLCR 

26  NEWHALL 

8  MIDWAY- SUNSET 

J7  BEVERLY  HILLS 

9  ELK  HILLS 

28  SALT  LAKE 

10  KERN  HIVER 

29  LOS  AN5ELES 

!  I    ARROYO  GRANDE 

M  MONTEBELLO 

12  CASMALIA 

31   WMITTIEB 

!3  SANTA  MARIA 

32  SANTA  FE  SPRINGS 

«  CAT  CANTON 

33  COYOTE  HILLS 

15  LOMPOC 

34  RICHFIELD 

16  SUMMEBLANO 

35  BREA-OLINDA 

36  HUNTINGTON  BEACH 

'8  SANTA  PAULA 

37  LONG  BEACH 

19  SOUTH  MOUNTAIN 

38  TORRANCE 

39  WHEELER  RIOCE 

Ostnct  Bouncanes. 

40  OOWNSUEZ 

41  ROSECOANS 

42  INGLEWOOD 


M  e:   X    I    c    0 


28 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


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STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


29 


90.3 
89.1 
91.5 
49.2 
100.0 
100.0 
79.4 
100.0 
90,6 

00 

89.7 
93.1 
95.3 
94.7 
93.7 
93.7 

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21.0 
8.2 
49.8 
72.5 
21.2 
2.8 

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161.2 
8.4 
20.8 
39.9 
92.0 

cc 

o 

d 

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3,157 

15,415 

5,893 

362 

184 

552 

22,()45 

1,656 

22,305 

& 

12,705 
44,711 

383,408 
50,855 

497,686 
2,069 

o 

CI 

oo 

s 

oo_ 

410 
2,700 

465 
60 

175 
1,875 
1.500 

14,852 

523,379 

291,506 

388 

18,959 

338 

589,716 

6,765 

26,100 

o 

330,100 
7,206,216 
3,212,311 
1,059,784 
19,837,369 
190,350 

o 

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28,661 

318,453 

20,250 

602 

17,390 

137,482 

3,000 

—  r:  CO               lO      po 

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261 

2,186 

292 

2,887 

12 

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86.8 
95.9 
96.8 
92.9 
84.2 

o 

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ob 

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ijThe  exact   production  for  some 
wells  cdulil  not  be  obtained  and 
the  folldwinR  estimates  were  in- 
corporatc'ii  in  the  above  figures: 

Huntington  Beach 

Loni?  Bi'acli 

Newpiirt... 

Richticld.. 

Santa  Fe  Springs 

Torrance. 

Whitticr 

cr.  oc  ~.  -f  =;  =  t~  o  OS 

5.9 
202.9 
9.7 
0.3 
0.9 
0.5 
34.4 
0.0 
12,9 

47.2 
5.6 
47.6 
78.1 
20.0 
2.0 

■»< 

5  1 
33.8 
56  3 

11 
105.9 

0.6 
27.0 

4.3 

1.2 

00 

o 

15.2 
186.4 
8.8 
21  0 
38.9 
106.2 

o 

o 

O 

3,183 

15.288 

5,078 

362 

182 

546 

22.493 

1,638 

22,305 

U5 

41,879 
33,936 

374,948 
50,124 

459,228 
1,524 

C2 

1^ 

>0 

to 

TO_ 

r--*" 

122 
1.036 
703 
413 
278 

16,370 

517,414 

285,855 

388 

19,271 

334 

606,821 

6,980 

26,100 

036,062 
6,324.018 
3,300,720 
1,051.007 
17,858,9.58 
161,910 

"5 

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CO 
TO 

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2,800 

328,096 

82,315 

15,126 

58,767 

"  "  ^                  o       ro 

E 
•^ 

251 
216 

2,161 
286 

2,731 
10 

S 
". 

i 

o" 

<M  oo  -»•  C^  TO 

District  No.  3: 

Arroyo  Grande 

Casmalia 

•Half  Moon  Bay 

Ivompoc ..- 

M oody  Gulch 

Sargent- 

^"c 

District  No.  4: 

BclriilRc-Lost  Hills-Devils  Den. 

Elk  Hills 

Kern  River 

McKittrick-Temblor 

Midwav-Sunset 

Wheeler  Ridge 

.2 

0 

o 

ui     1 

c 

•I1 

•So 

.2 

o 

-a 

c 

O 

»The  exact  production  for  some  wells 
could  not  be  obtained  and  the  follow- 
ing estimates  wore  incorporated  in  the 
alxjve  figures: 

Coyote  Hills 

Long  Beach 

Huntington  Beach 

Kichficld.. 

Santa  Fc  Springs 

30 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Financial  and  Operating  Conditions  of  California  Oil   Fields,  1924. 

Financial  results  of  tlic  oil  husiiicss  during  1!)24  arc  shown  by  the 
foUowinsf  tables.  The  features  worthy  of  mention  are :  ( 1 )  The  hiuher 
price  received  for  the  year  as  shown  by  the  state  average  of  all  grades. 
(2)  Decreases  in  the  dividends  paid  by  companies  operating  in  Fresno 
and  Los  Angeles  counties,  and  in  the  Kern  River  tield,  l)ut  an  8% 
increase  in  the  state  total  of  dividends  for  the  year.  (3)  Decreases  in 
the  number  of  barrels  per  well  i)er  day  yield  (see  Table  I)  in  most  of 
the  older  fields.  (4)  Somewhat  hiulier  operating  costs  per  barrel  in 
most  of  the  fields. 

With  reference  to  Table  I.  it  should  be  noted  that  although  it  lacks 
data  from  the  larger  operators  who  have  refineries  and  with  interests 
in  more  than  one  field,  yet  the  data  given  are  of  economic  value  and 
interest  in  that  they  indicate  the  conditions  prevailing  among  the 
.smaller  companies  and  operators. 

Operating  cost  per  well  is  not  always  lower  for  the  dividend  compa- 
nies than  others.  Profitable  operations  seem  to  depend  generally  upon 
large  wells,  high  grade  oil,  and  proximity  to  market.  Price  and  profits 
have  usually  been  greater  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange-Ventura  fields 
than  in  others,  doubtless  largely  due  to  the  proximity  to  market  and 
higher  grades  of  oil.  Crude  oil  testing  as  high  as  56°  Baume  is 
obtained  from  some  of  the  Ventura  wells. 

TABLE   G.      CAPITALIZATION. 


Field 


Number  of 
companies 
considered* 


Per  cent 
of  total 

product 
of  field 


Capital 


Cash 


Property 


Fresno  County — Coalinga 

Kern  County: 

Kern  River 

Midway 

Sunset-Maricopa 

McKittrick,  Lost  Hills.  Belridge,  Devils  Den,  Elk  Hills 

Los  Angeles  County 

Orange  County- 

Santa  Barbara  County 

Ventura  County 

Subtotals 

Miscellaneous  and  marketing  companies" 

Totals 


63 
71 
28 
42 
121 
51 
20 
40 


495 
175 


32  5 

40 

10 
14 
18 
36 

44 


$2,740,230 

8,769,085 
5,377.950 
2,428.290 
2,392,478 
3,743,123 
6,233,777 
3,676,014 
1,284,070 


$36,645,017 
372.193,686 


$22,014,927 

7,841,714 
45,230,394 
7,638,394 
5,713,996 
28,205.377 
15,190.491 
34.470,502 
17,052,557 

$183,358,352 
248,598,286 


$408,838,703 


$431,956,638 


*See  Table  I,  following. 

"Includes  companies  having  refineries,  and  those  operating  in  several  fields  whose  data  could  not  be  segregated  as  to 
counties  or  fields. 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXUAL   PKODUCTIOX. 


31 


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MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


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10,763 

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STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  33 

Proved   Oil   Land. 

The  total  proved  oil  land  of  the  state  increased  to  118,979  acres  in 
1924,  against  116,868  acres  in  1923.  Of  this  ,1924  total,  21,556  acres 
being  o^^^led  by  federal,  state,  and  city  governments,  or  for  other 
reasons,  is  not  assessable  for  the  support  of  the  Department  of  Petro- 
leum and  (jras  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  The  acreage  in  1924  was 
distributed  hy  counties,  as  follows : 

TABLE   J. 
Proved  Oil  Land  and  Number  of  Wells,  1924. 

County 

Fresno    1 

Kern    

Los  Angeles*    

Orange    

San    Bernardino   

San  Luis  Obispo 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara 

Santa  Clara  

Ventura    

Totals 118,979  11,356 

*Not  including  the  old  Los  Angeles  City  Field. 

American   Petroleum:   Supply  and   Demand. 

IJecause  of  the  importani-e  of  an  adcfjuate  petroleum  supply  to  the 
future  of  the  United  States,  not  only  from  the  eronomic  and  industrial 
standpoint,  but  social  and  political  as  well,  the  American  Petroleum 
Institute  has  published  in  buok  form  the  report^  of  its  committee  which 
has  investigated  this  subject.  We  quote  the  following  as  among  the 
more  important  features  of  that  report : 

"The  major  factors  of  the  investigation  naturally  concern  the  future  supply  of 
petroleum  and  the  future  demand  of  the  country  for  petroleum  products  in  time  of 
peace  or  war. 

"The  American  oil  industry  stands  amongst  the  foremost  of  American  industries. 
It  is  estimated  that  in  its  various  branches — exploring,  producing,  refining,  marketing 
and  distributing — some  750,000  persons  are  employed  and  it  represents  an  investment 
of  more  tlian  nine  billion  dollars  ($9,000,000,000).  The  persons  having  investments 
in  the  oil  industry  number  many  hundreds  of  thousands." 

********** 

"Summary  of  Conclusions. 

"1.  There  is  no  imminent  danger  of  the  exhaustion  of  the  petroleum  reserves  of  the 
United  States. 

"2.  It  is  reasonable  to  assume  that  a  sufficient  supply  of  oil  will  be  available  for 
national  defense  and  for  essential  uses  in  the  United  States  beyond  the  time  when 
science  will  limit  the  demand  by  developing  more  efficient  use  of,  or  substitutes  for, 
oil,   or   will   displace   its  use   as   a   source  of  power  by   harnessing  a  natural   energs'. 

"3.  Current  supply  and  demand  can  not  stay  in  balance,  since  the  amount  of  both 
supply  and  demand  are  constantly  changing.  Generally  current  supply  will  exceed 
or  be"  less  than  current  demand,  creating  surplus  or  shortage  ;  either  condition  will 
be  reflected  in  price,  but  price  will  in  time  correct  either  condition. 

"4.  Petroleum  recoverable  by  present  methods  of  flowing  and  pumping  from 
existing  wells  and  acreage  thus  proven  consist  of  five  billion  three  hundred  million 
(5,300,000,000)   barrels  of  crude  oil. 

"5.  It  is  estimated  that  after  pumping  and  flowing  there  will  remain  in  the  area 
now  producing  and  proved  twenty-six  billion  (26,000,000,000)  barrels  of  crude  oil,  a 
considerable  portion  of  which  can  be  recovered  by  improved  and  known  processes  such 
as  flooding  with  water,  the  introduction  of  air  and  gas  pressure  and  mining,  when 
price  justifies. 

"6.  Improved  methods  of  deep  drilling  below  oil  sands  now  producing  will  disclose 
in  many  area.s  deposits  not  hitherto  available,  which  will  be  tantamount  to  the  dis- 
covery of  new  fields.  Improved  methods  of  producing  have  been  perfected  which  will 
make  possible  recovery  of  oil  from  these  lower  levels.  The  limit  of  deep  drilling  has 
not  been  reached. 

"7.  The  major  oil  reserves  of  the  United  States  lie  in  some  one  billion  one  hundred 
million    (1,100,000,000)    acres  of  land  underlain  by  sedimentary  rocks,  and  not  fully 

'"American  Petroleum :   Supply  and  Demand,"   Amer.   Petr.  Inst..   1925. 
3—41922 


34  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

explored,  in  which  geolog>-  indicates  oil  is  possible.  With  extended  search  new 
supplies  will  be  found  therein. 

'"S.  The  Nation  has  an  additional  reserve  in  the  vast  deposits  of  oU  shale,  coal  and 
lignites  from  all  of  which  liquid  fuel  and  lubricants  may  be  extracted  if  and  when  the 
cost  of  recovery  is  jurtified  by  the  price  of  these  products.  These  deposits  are  so 
huge  that  they  promise,  under  conservative  estimates,  an  almost  unlimited  supply. 

"d.  Wliile  this  report  is  confined  to  tlie  petroleum  .supply  and  demand  within 
continental  United  States  the  importance  of  imports  can  not  be  ignored.  Countries 
lo  the  south  are  known  to  have  large  petroleum  resources,  for  the  output  of  which 
the  United  States  is  a  natural  market  and  the  supply  therefrom  must  inevitably  have 
its  influence  on  the  consumption  of  American  reserves. 

"10.  The  availability  of  future  petroleum  supplies  from  the  vast  area  of  land 
mentioned  above  depends  upon  adequate  incentives  to  the  exploration  which  in  the 
past  has  given  the  Nation  a  sufficient  supply  of  petroleum,  in  peace  and  in  war, 
throughout  the  history  of  the  oil  industry,  from  its  inception  in  1859. 

"There  must  be :    (a)    Security  in  the  ownership  of  oU  lands  and  of  the  right  to  lease. 

"(b)  Conditions  of  exploration  and  development  by  owners  or  lessees  permitting 
exercise  of  initiative,  liberty  of  action,  the  play  of  competition  and  the  free  operation 
of  the  law  of  Supply  and  Demand 

"(c)  Prices  that  will  provide  a  return  to  producers,  refiners,  and  distributors 
commensurate  to  the  risks  involved  and  the  capital  invested. 

"11.  The  supply  of  petroleum.  wUl  be  made  to  go  much  further  through  more 
efficient  utilization.  Automotive  experts  state  that  the  mileage  of  the  motor  car 
per  gallon  of  gasoline  may  be  doubled  through  structural  mechanical  changes,  when 
price  justifies  such  changes.  Improved  mechanics  will  also  result  in  smaller  con- 
sumption of  lubricants. 

"12.  Through  improved  methods,  principally  the  process  known  as  'cracking,'  the 
refining  branch  of  the  industry  has  already  increased  the  yield  of  gasoline,  now  the 
major  product  of  petroleum.  Through  further  improvements  and  extensions  the 
supply  of  gasoline  will  be  augmented  still  further  by  the  'crackLng'  of  fuel  oil.  In 
ions<:<iuence  the  supply  of  fuel  oil  will  1>e  correspondinglv  diminished,  thus  eventuallv 
removing  fuel  oil  from  competition  with  coal. 

"13.  Waste  in  the  production,  transportation,  refining  and  distribution  of  petroleum 
and   its  products   is  negligible." 

"Demand  Report. 

■'The  Demand  Report  forecasts  wliat  the  country's  requirements  of  petroleum 
products  and  consequently  crude  oil  will  be  for  a  period  of  fifty  years.  The  estimates 
are  based  primarily  on  a  study  of  the  growth  of  national  population  Industry,  with 
calculations  as  to  the  increase  in  the  automotive  and  other  oil-consuming  engines, 
with  resultant  increase  in  consumption,  all  leading  to  estimates  of  the  total  demand 
for  oU,  from  decade  to  decade. 

"In  making  its  forecast  the  Committee  on  Demand  has  approached  the  subject  on 
two  bases — a  minimum  demand  and  a  maximum  demand  The  minimum  demand 
estimate  sets  forth  the  amount  of  oil  necessary  to  meet  the  country's  requirements  if 
as  is  predicted  will  bf  the  case,  there  occurs  in  the  oil  industrv  an  extension  of  the 
refinery  proc-ess  of  'cracking'  crude  oil,  which  produces  a  much  higher  >-ield  of 
gasoline,  and  if,  as  automotive  engineers  declare  is  mechanically  possible,  the 
efficiency  of  the  internal  combustion  engine  is  improved  so  as  to  bring  greater 
mileage  per  gallon  per  motor  car. 

"  'Cracking'  is  already  an  established  practice  and  its  use  is  being  rapidlv  extended 
throughout  the  oil  industry.  Further  extension  will  vastlv  increase  the  vield  of 
gasoline,  now  the  ma.lor  product  of  petroleum.'' 

"Economies  of  Refining. 

"The  conservation  of  petroleum  supplies  by  'cracking'  is  alreadv  well  advanced  Bv 
this  process  the  heavier  constituents  of  crude,  such  as  kerosene  and  gas  oil,  are 
subjected  to  distillation  at  high  Temperatures  in  special  stills.  The  treatment  breaks 
down  or  'cracks'  a  certain  proportion  of  these  heavier  forms  of  oil  into  gasoline 
leaving  a  correspondmgly  smaller  residuum  of  heavv  fuel  oils  or  petroleum  coke 
The  general  adoption  of  this  system  of  distillation  would  decrease  to  a  marked 
extent  the  available  supply  of  fuel  and  residue  coke  now  available.  The  pres<=-nt  vield 
of  gasoline,  according  to  the  Bureau  of  Mines'  statistics,  is  33  per  cent  of  the  crude 
rim  to  stills.  This  could  be  increased  to  55  per  cent.  There  is  also  a  recovery  Qf  25 
per  cent  of  lubricants,  according  to  the  Bureau  of  Mines. 

"The  Committee  on  Demand  believes  that  if  improvements  in  refining  and  in 
automotive  engines  are  adopted  as  foreshadowed,  a  petroleum  supplv  would  be  required 
of  less  than  500,000,000  barrels  in  1950.  as  compared  with  643.966,000  barrels  actuallv 
run  to  stills  in  1924.  There  would  be  in  addition  from  the  operations  of  1950 
approximately  200,000.000  barrels  of  residue — or  the  equivalent  in  residue  coke — from 
complete  cracking  methods.  This  should  take  care  of  about  30  per  c^-nt  of  the 
estimated  normal  fuel  oil  demand  of  «41. 000.000  barrels  for  that  vear  the  balance 
to  be  taken  care  of  from  other  sources,  possibly  oil  shale  or  coal. 

"Having  arrived  at  the  probable  number  of  automotive  engines  at  various  periods 
the  Committee  on  Demand  has  found  it  comparativelv  easv  to  figure  what  the  demand 
for  gasoline  would  be  in  future  years  were  there  no  marked  fuel  saving  improvement: 
made  in  automotive  engmes.  The  gasohne  consumption  of  the  United  States 
according  to  the  Bureau  of  Mines'  figures,  increased  from  75,000.000  barrels  of 
forty-two  gallons  m  191 S  to  1S5. 000.000  barrels  in  1924.  During  the  same  period 
automotive  engines  increased  from   6.500.000   to   18,000,000. 

"The  consumption  of  gasoline  per  car  r»er  year  ranged  from  11.13  barrels  in  1918 
t'T  9.67 — the  lowest  pomt  reached — ^in  the  lean  bu.siness  vear  of  1921 — ^when  the 
increase  m  registrations  also  was  less  than  in  anr  other.  Since  1921  the  con  "sump- 
lion  has  been  9.92  barrels  per  vehicle  in  1922,  10.10  in  1923,  and  10  15  in  1994 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  35 

"The  seven  years'  average  of  10.0  barrels  has  been  adopted  as  that  on  which  future 
maximum  demand  for  gasoline  may  safely  be  based.  Were  this  ratio  of  demand  to 
remain  constant  until  1950  the  gasoline  called  for  in  that  year  would  total  455,549,000 
barrels." 

"Fuel  Oil  Consumption. 

"Due  to  a  pronounced  increase  in  total  consumption  of  fuel  oil,  gas  oil  and  crude 
oil  used  for  fuel  in  19:!3  and  a  subsequent  decrease  in  1924,  it  has  been  assumed  that 
the  consumption  for  these  two  years  was  of  abnormal  character,  so  the  1920  and  1922 
figures  have  been  used  by  the  committee  on  demand  to  determine  the  normal  curve 
for  the  five-year  period  from  1920  to  1925.  The  total  consumption  in  the  United  States 
during  1922,  according  to  the  estimate  of  the  United  States  Geodetic  Survey,  was 
324,000,000   barrels. 

"The  Committee  on  Demard,  basing  its  calculations  on  official  and  trade  reports, 
estimated  that  of  this  total,  including  Diesel  oil,  industrial  and  domestic  consumption 
aggi-egated  228,000,000  barrels ;  railroads  used  44,000,000  barrels ;  the  merchant 
marine.  32,000,000 ;  the  United  States  Navy,  6,000,000  and  public  utility  electric 
plants    14,000,000   barrels. 

"Normal  increase  of  this  demand  during  the  next  twenty-five  years  would  result 
in  a  fuel  oil  requirement  of  641,000,000  barrels  in  1950.  The  subcommittee  makes  no 
actempt  to  prove  that  such  a  demand  could  be  met,  contenting  itself  with  stating  that : 

"  'The  demand  for  fuel  oil  has  been  approached  from  two  angles —  first  by  assuming 
that  it  would  be  forced  by  economic  pressure  to  conform  to  the  quantity  of  residuum 
left  from  the  manufacture  of  gasoline  and  lubricants,  and  second,  by  considering 
the  predicted  growth  of  industrial  uses  to  which  fuel  oil  is  peculiarly  adapted  as  a 
source    of    energy."  " 

"Intensive  Drilling. 

"From  time  to  time  the  industry  is  spotted  with  a  spectacular  development  of 
new  fields  of  oil,  which,  due  to  intensive  drilling  and  close  spacing  of  wells,  results 
in  huge  production  sometimes  in  a  remarkably  speedy  manner.  These  spectacular 
events  are  largely  responsible  for  a  public  impression  of  extravagance  and  waste  in 
the  oil  industry.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  expense  of  intensive  and  speedy 
development  of  an  oil  field,  the  result  of  competitive  effort  on  the  part  of  many 
producing  units,  as  against  a  more  orderly  development  under  ideal  but  unattainable 
ronditions,  it  can  be  said  that  avoidable  waste  of  oil  itself  is  nominal.  In  fact, 
most  experts  agree  that  in  most  fields  intensive  development  with  closely  spaced 
wells  will  bring  forth  more  oil  than  slowly  developed  fields  with  widely  spaced  wells, 
and  tliere  is  much  in  the  record  performance  of  certain  fields  to  indicate  that  this 
is   true." 

"Rush  for  Production. 

"A  'wildcat'  well  is  often  drilled  in  regions  where  property  holdings  are  divided 
sometimes  into  quite  small  plots,  and  when  oil  is  discovered  a  condition  which  is 
known  in  the  oil  industry  as  'town  lot  drilling'  ensues.  When  the  'wildcat'  becomes  a 
producer,  the  owner  of  neighboring  property  naturally  drills  a  well  as  quickly  as 
possible  in  order  that  his  property  will  not  be  drained  by  the  first  well.  Other 
neighbors  follow  and  there  is  a  mad  rush  by  perhaps  scores  of  property  owners  within 
the  now-proven  field  to  do  liktwise,  and  the  field  shortly  presents  a  scene  of  terrific 
activity,  with  scores  of  wells  being  drilled.  Pipe  lines  must  be  laid  and  storage 
facilities  provided. 

"The  work  goes  on  night  and  day.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  competition  and 
usually  an  appearance  of  confusion,  which,  not  unnaturally,  would  give  an  impres- 
sion of  disorganization  and  consequent  inefficiency  and  loss.  But  the  fact  remains 
that  when  the  drills  penetrate  .'^ands,  and  the  gas  nressure  lifts  the  oil,  perhaps  in 
great  volume,  to  the  surface,  the  oil  itself  is  turned  into  the  pipe  lines  and  safely  sent 
to  storage. 

"Storage  Problem. 

"Frequently  this  intensive  drilling  and  consequent  speedy  creation  of  a  large  supply 
of  oil  leads  to  a  condition  of  surplus  or  over-production  beyond  the  immediate  needs 
of  the  consuming  market,  necessitating  new  storage  in  the  form  of  concrete-lined 
leservoirs  and  steel  tanks.  In  a  recent  work  on  the  oil  industry  it  is  stated  that  in 
California's  oil  fields  during  1923,  $47,000,000  was  spent  on  new  storage. 

"The  cost  of  this  storage  becomes  a  serious  expense  to  the  industry  which  would  not 
have  been  incurred  if  there  could  be  an  ideal  condition  where  the  reserves  of  the 
eartli  could  be  turned  on  and  off  as  needed,  in  strict  accordance  with  the  demand  for 
crude  oil.  In  this  respect  it  might  l-)e  said  that  it  is  an  economic  waste,  but,  as 
indicated,  there  is  no  waste  of  oil  itself,  for  methods  of  handling  and  storage  are 
now  such  that  the  natural   losses  through   leakage  and  evaporation  are  nominal." 


36  MINERAL    IXDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORXIA. 

CHAPTER  THREE. 

METALS. 

Bibliographij:  Reports  of  State  ^lineralogist  I-XXI  (inc.).  Bulle- 
tin.s  5,  6.  18.  23.  27.  36,  50.  57.  76.  78.  85.  92,  95.  Spurr  and 
AVormser.  "Marketing  of  Metals  and  Minerals.''  See  also  under 
each  metal. 

The  total  value  of  metals  produced  in  California  during  1924  was 
.*24.008.774.  The  chief  of  these  is.  and  always  has  been,  gold,  followed 
in  1924  by  copper,  silver,  quicksilver,  tungsten,  lead,  zinc,  platinum  and 
manganese  ore.  There  was  a  small  output  of  iron  ore  and  arsenic. 
There  was  no  production  of  antimony,  cadmium,  molybdenum,  nor  tin. 
which  have  in  the  past  been  on  the  active  list.  Deposits  of  ores  of  nickel 
and  vanadium  have  also  been  found  in  the  state ;  although  there  has  yet 
been  no  commercial  output  of  them.  The  above-noted  total  for  this 
group  is  a  net  increase  of  $2,388,805  over  the  1923  total  of  $21,619,969, 
due  mainly  to  an  increase  registered  by  copper,  in  spite  of  decreases 
by  lead,  gold  and  silver. 

California  leads  all  states  in  the  Union  in  her  gold  production  and 
is  credited  with  approximately  30^^  of  the  nation's  yield  in  1924.  The 
precious  metal  is  ^\-idely  distributed  through  the  state.  Thirty  of  the 
fifty-eight  counties  reported  an  output  in  1924  from  either  mines  or 
dredges. 

Copper,  which  is  second  in  importance  among  the  metals  of  the 
state,  occurs  in  the  following  general  districts :  the  Shasta  County  belt, 
which  has  been  by  far  the  most  important :  the  Coast  Range  deposits, 
extending  more  or  less  continuously  from  Del  Norte  in  the  north  to  San 
Luis  Obispo  County  in  the  i-outh ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  belt,  starting  in 
Plumas  and  running  in  a  general  southerly  and  .southeasterly  direction 
through  the  Mother  Lode  counties  and  ending  in  Kern:  the  eastern 
belt  in  ^Nlono  and  Inyo  counties :  and  the  southern  belt,  in  San  Bernar- 
dino. Riverside  and  San  Diego  countie.s. 

Silver  is  not  generally  found  alone  in  the  state,  except  notably  in  the 
Rand  district.  San  Bernardino  County :  but  is  as.soc-iated  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent  with  gold,  copper,  lead,  and  zinc. 

Quicksilver  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  state's  staple  products 
and  California  has  supplied  approximately  75'^f  of  the  nation's  output 
of  this  metal. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  but  few  other  localities  of  importance  in  the 
United  States. 

Large  deposits  of  iron  ore  have  long  l)een  known  in  several  sections  of 
the  .state,  but  for  various  economic  reasons  this  branch  of  the  mineral 
industrv  thus  far  has  made  only  slight  progress  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAIi    PRODUCTION. 


37 


A  coinparisou  of  the   1924  metal  output   with   that   of  the   1928   is 
att'orded  hv  the  followino-  table  : 


Substance 

1923 

1924 

Increase+ 
Decrease — 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Value 

Copper.. 

28,246,860  lbs. 

J4,166.989 

13,379,013 

18,665 

695,416 

10,620 

78,546 

332.851 

2,918.743 

19.126 

52,089,349  lbs. 

16,823,704 
13,150,175 

398.751 
25,785 
36,452 

543.080 
2,381.952 

446  009 

$2,656,715+ 
228  838— 

Gold 

Iron  ore... 

3,102  tons 
9,934,522  lbs. 
690  tons 
602  fine  oz. 
5,458  flasks 
3,559,443  fine  oz. 
34  tons 

4,984,387  lbs. 
1,115  tons 

273  fine  oz. 
7.948  flasks 
3,555,153  fine  oz. 
781  tons 

Lead 

296,665— 
15  165+ 

Manganeseore .  ... 

Platinum 

42  094— 

Quicksilver.. 

210  229+ 

Silver 

536  791— 

Tungsten  concentrates 

426  883+ 

Zinc 

3  060  000  lbs          1         1 98  900 

198,900+ 
3,966— 

Unapportioned". 

3,966 

Total  value 

$21,619,969 

$24,008,774 

Net  increase 

$2,388,805+ 

"Unapportioned  includes  iron  ore  and  arsenic. 


ALUMINUM. 


Bihliograpky :  Report  XVIII,  p.  198. 
Surv.,  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S. 


Bulletins  38,  67.    U.  S.  Geol. 


To  date  there  has  been  no  conimereial  production  of  aluminum  ore 
in  California.  Only  a  single  authenticated  occurrence  of  bauxite  has 
thus  far  been  noted  in  this  state,  lieing  in  Riverside  County,  southeast  of 
Corona,  but  as  yet  undeveloped. 

Minerals  containing  aluminum  are  abundant,  the  most  Avidely  dis- 
tributed being  the  clays.  There  are  only  two,  however,  thus  far  of 
consecjuenee,  commercially,  in  the  production  of  the  metal:  bauxite  (to 
which  may  be  added  to  the  related  hydrated  oxides,  hydrargillite  and 
diaspore)  and  cryolite.  Cryolite  is  found  in  commercial  (|uantities 
only  in  South  Greenland,  and  was  formerly  the  only  ore  of  aluminum 
used,  being  still  employed  as  a  flux  in  the  extraction  of  the  metal. 
Bauxite  has  been,  for  some  years,  the  most  important  source  of  alumi- 
num and  its  salts.  Its  color  varies  from  gray  to  red,  according  to  the 
amount  of  iron  present,  the  composition  ranging  usually  between  the 
following  limits:  ALO,.  30^-60%  ;  Fe,0„  3%-25'/f  ;  SiO,,  0.57^-20^;^  ; 
TiO.,  0.07^-10%.  Besides  its  reduction  to  the  meetal,  bauxite  is  also 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of:  aluminum  salts,  refractory  bricks,  alun- 
dum  (fused  alumina)  for  use  as  an  abrasive;  and  in  the  refining  of 
oil  (stated  to  be  of  great  importance).  The  most  important  pro- 
ducing countries,  both  of  bauxite  and  the  metal,  are  the  United  States 
and  France,  the  former  yielding  more  than  60  per  cent  of  tlie  world's 
output.    In  1913  France  led. 

ANTIMONY. 

Bibliuyraijliy :   State   Mineralogist    Reports   VIII,    X,   XII,   XIII, 
XIV,  XV,  XVII.    Bulletin  38. 

Production  of  antimony  in  California  has  been  irregular,  and  small 
in  amount  except  during  the  year  1916  when  the  high  war-time  prices 
permitted  American  producers,  for  a  short  period,  to  compete  with 
Chinese  antimony.     The  principal  commercial  production  of  antimony 


38 


MINERAL    INDUSTKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


in  California  lias  come  from  Kern,  Inyo  and  San  Benito  eonnties,  and 
other  oeurrences  have  heen  noted  in  Nevada,  Riverside  and  Santa 
Clara  ecnmties.  The  commonest  ocenrence  is  in  the  form  of  the  snl- 
phide,  stihnite;  bnt  in  the  Kernville  and  Ilavilah  districts  in  Kern 
County  there  were  notable  deposits  of  the  native  metal,  being  among 
the  few  localities  of  the  world  where  native  antimon^^  has  been  found, 

Californian  producers  claim  that  they  can  not  operate  profitably 
unless  the  price  of  antimony  be  above  12  cents  per  pound.  Present  New 
York  quotations  are  around  17  cents  per  pound,  owing  to  a  .shortage  of 
the  metal  as  a  result  of  the  rioting  and  revolutionary  fighting  that  has 
been  going  on  in  China  for  a  number  of  months.  China  is  the  principal 
world  source  of  antimony.  As  a  consequence,  there  is  a  revival  of 
antimony  mining  in  California  for  the  current  year,  1925. 

Pure  antimony  metal  and  manufactured  antimony  compounds  are  of 
considerable  importance  as  pigments  in  the  ceramic  industry.  The 
most  important  use  of  the  metal,  connnercially,  is  in  various  alloys. 
particularly  type-metal  (with  tin  and  lead),  babbitt  (with  tin  and 
copper),  and  britannia  metal  (with  tin  and  copper). 

Antimony  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  production  of  antimony  in  California  by  years  since  1887  has 
been  as  follows: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

1               j 
Tons 

Value 

1887  ... 

1888  - 

75 
100 

$15,500 
20,000 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

Totals 

70 
50 

510 
....      1,015  i 

158  1 

$5,700 
8,350 

1889 

1893  ... 

1894  ... 

1895  ... 

1896  ... 

1897  ... 

1898  ... 

1899  .„ 

50 
150 
33 
17 
20 
40 
75 

2,250 
6,000 
1,485 
2,320 
3,500 
1,200 
13,500 

35,666 
64,793 
18,786 

....      2,363 

$199,050 

Bihliography  •  Report  XVIII 
of  U.  S. 


ARSENIC. 

Bulletin  67. 


U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res. 


Arsenic  is  found  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California  in  the  min- 
eral arsenopyrite  (FeAsS),  which  is  frequently  gold  bearing;  and  in 
scorodite  (FeA.s04+2HoO),  an  oxidation  product  of  arsenopyrite.  The 
occurrence  of  realgar  (AsS)  has  also  been  noted.  The  principal  source 
of  the  arsenic  of  commerce  in  the  United  States  has  been  as  a  by-product 
from  the  metallurgical  treatment  of  copper,  gold,  and  lead  ores.  It  is 
usually  recovered  in  the  form  of  the  tri-oxide,  or  'white  arsenic,'  for 
which  there  is  a  demand  for  the  preparation  of  insecticides,  for  use  in 
agriculture  and  horticulture,  and  especially  against  the  cotton-boll 
weevil  in  the  southern  states. 

Up  to  the  beginning  of  1924,  there  had  been  no  commercial  recovery 
of  arsenic  from  Californian  ores.  This  year  the  plant  of  the  Chipman 
Chemical  Company  at  Bay  Point  began  the  preparation  of  arsenic 
compounds  from  Californian  and  Nevadan  ores,  by  a  chemical  process, 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  39 

As  there  was  only  the  one  opei'ator.  the  iunouiil  and  value  are  concealed 
under  the  'nnapportioned'  total. 

BERYLLIUM. 

Bibliography:  Enj;.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  118,  No.  8,  p.  285, 
Aug.  23,  i924. 

Beryllium  is  a  metal  resembling  aluminum  closely  in  its  chemical 
character,  and  has  a  specific  gravity  of  2.7.  Several  alloys  have  been 
prepared  experimentally,  of  which  copper-beryllium  has  received  the 
mast  attention.  The  addition  of  5%  beryllium  produces  a  golden-yellow 
alloy. 

The  compounds  of  beryllium  at  present  used  commercially  are  the 
nitrate  and  oxide.  The  nitrate  is  used  by  incandescent  mantle  manu- 
facturers to  harden  the  thorium  oxide  skeleton,  the  amount  varying 
from  2  gm.  to  5  gm.  per  kilogram  of  thorium  nitrate.  The  oxide  has 
been  added  to  materials  being  used  for  the  manufacture  of  abrasive 
compounds  and  in  dental  cements,  and  has  also  been  recommended  as  a 
( ondensing  agent  in  the  preparation  of  certain  esters.  It  is  stated  that 
this  latter  proi)erty  may  prove  of  value  to  manufacturers  of  synthetic 
perfumes  and  essences.  Beryllium  sulphate  has  been  used  to  some 
extent  in  medical  research. 

There  are  a  number  of  beryllium  minerals,  but  none  have  been  f(mnd 
in  commercial  quantities,  except  beryl,  which  is  a  beryllium-aluminum 
silicate  carrying,  when  ])ure,  57%  silica,  19%  alumina,  and  14%  beryl- 
lium oxide.  Beryl  suitable  for  connnercial  {lurposes  should  carry  from 
10'/^  to  12%  l)eryllium  oxide.  The  ore  before  use  is  ground  to  pass 
90'/f-95%  through  a  200-mesh  screen.  It  should  be  white  in  color,  free 
from  iron-bearing  minerals  and  metallic  iion.  The  jirice  varies  from  4^ 
to  of  ])er  pound  in  carload  lots,  acL'ording  to  demand  and  percentage  of 
l)eryllium  oxide.  The  chief  use  at  present  for  ground  beryl  is  as  an 
addition  to  porcelain  products,  where  it  reduces  the  coefficient  of  expan- 
.sion.  Beryllium  metal  is  difficult  to  separate  from  aluminum.  For  this 
reason,  the  mineral  phenacite  (Be.SiO/)  would  be  a  more  desirable 
source  for  the  metal,  and  it  carries  approximately  45%  beryllium  oxide. 

Beryl  occurs  in  California  in  the  pegmatite  dikes  of  the  tourmaline 
gem  district  in  northern  San  Diego  and  southwestern  Riverside  counties. 
Thus  far  there  have  been  no  connnercial  shipments  of  beryl  except  for 
gem  purposes  (the  pink  and  aquamarine  varieties). 

BISMUTH. 

Bibliography:  Bulletins  38,  67.    Am.  Jour.  Sci.  1903,  Vol.  16. 

Several  bismuth  minerals  have  l)een  found  in  California,  notably 
native  bi.smuth  and  bisinite  (the  ochre)  in  the  tourmaline  gem  district 
in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties  near  Pala.  Other  occurrences  of 
bismuth  minerals,  including  the  sulphide,  bismuthinite,  have  been  noted 
in  Inyo,  Fresno,  Nevada,  Tuolumne  and  ]\Iono  counties,  but  only  in 
smallfpiantities.  The  only  commercial  production  recorded  was  20 
t(ms  valued  at  $2,400,  in  1904,  and  credited  to  Riverside  County. 

In  1917,  a  few  pounds  of  bismuthinite  (Bi.,S:,)  with  associated  bis- 
mutite  (BiXO,.H.,0),  was  taken  out  at  the  United  Tungsten  Copper 


40  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    (ALIFORXIA. 

Mine,  in  the  Morongro  district,  San  Bernardino  County.    It  is  associated 
with  scheelite  in  a  contact  deposit  between  limestone  and  granite. 

Recoveiy  of  bismuth  from  blister  copper  in  the  electrolytic  refiner^' 
has  been  noted.^  ranging  as  high  as  27.3  pounds  of  metallic  bismuth 
per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  from  the  Iron  ^Mountain,  Shasta  County, 
ores.  In  the  United  States,  the  principal  recovery  of  bismuth  is 
obtained  as  a  by-product  from  the  refining  of  lead  bullion. 

The  uses  of  bismuth  are  somewhat  restricted,  being  employed  princi- 
pally in  the  preparation  of  medicinal  salts,  and  in  low  melting-point 
or  cliche  alloys.  These  alloys  are  utilized  in  automatic  fire  sprinkler 
systems,  in  electrical  fuses,  and  in  solders. 

Present  C]UOtations  for  bismuth  are  around  $2.65  per  pound  for  the 
refined  metal. 

CADMIUM. 

Billiography :  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  :\Iin.  Res.  of  U.  S.,  1908,  1918. 

During  1917  and  1918.  cadmium  metal  Avas  recovered  by  the  elec- 
trolytic zinc  plant  of  the  Mammoth  Copper  Company  in  Shasta  County. 
It  was  shipped  in  the  form  of  'sticks'  and  amounted  to  a  total  of 
several  thousand  pounds  for  the  two  years,  the  exact  figures  being 
concealed  under  'Unapportioned.'  That  was  the  first,  and  thus  far 
the  only,  commercial  production  of  cadmium  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornia ore.  Cadmium  there  occurs  associated  with  zinc  sulphide, 
sphalerite,  probably  as  the  sulphide,  greenockite.  Cadmium  also  occurs 
in  the  Cerro  Gordo  ]\Iine.  Inyo  County,  associated  with  smithsonite 
(^zinc  carbonate). 

There  are  several  cadmium  minerals,  but  none  of  them  occur  in 
sufficient  quantities  individually  to  be  profitable  as  distinct  ores.  The 
cadmium  of  t-onnneree  is  derived  as  a  by-product  in  the  reduction  of 
zinc  minerals  and  ores,  in  nearly  all  of  which  it  occurs  in  at  least  minute 
proportions,  the  average  ratio  being  about  1  of  cadmium  to  200  of  zinc. 
As  cadmium  beliaves  nietallurgically  much  the  same  as  zinc,  it  con- 
stitutes a  fraction  of  1  per  cent  of  nearly  all  metallic  zinc. 

Cadmium  is  produced  in  the  United  States  in  two  forms — metallic 
cadmium  and  the  pigment,  cadmium  sulphide.  The  principal  use  of 
the  metal  is  in  low-melting  point,  or  cliche  alloys,  and  its  salts  are 
utilized  in  the  arts,  medicine,  and  in  electroplating.  The  sulphide  is 
employed  as  a  paint  pigment,  being  a  strong  yellow,  which  is  unaffected 
by  hydrogen  sulphide  gas  from  coal  smoke.  It  is  also  employed  in 
coloring  glass  and  porcelain.  Cadmium  cliche  metal  is  stated  to  be 
superior  to  the  corresponding  bismuth  alloy,  for  making  stereotype 
plates.  Cadmium  is  also  used  in  bronze  telegraph  and  telephone  wires, 
and  gives  some  promise  of  being  utilized  in  electroplating. 

Present  quotations  for  cadmium  are  60c  per  pound  for  the  refined 
metal. 

COBALT. 

Bibliography:  Report  XIV.     Bulletin  67.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res. 
of  U.  S.,  1912,  1918. 

Occurrences  of  some  of  the  cobalt  minerals  have  been  noted  in 
sineral  localities  in  California,  but  to  date  no  commercial  production 
has  resulted.     Some  of  tlie  copper  ores  of  the  foothill  copper  belt  in 

'Trans.  Am.   Inst.   Min.  Eng.,  Vol.   47,  pp.   217-218. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNrAIi    PRODrcTIOX.  41 

Mariposa  ami  .Madera  (MMuitirs  have  l)t'eii  found  to  contain  cobalt  up 
to  3S  .  The  most  recent,  and  notable,  occurrence  thus  far  found  in 
this  state  is  in  the  Mar-John  IMine  near  Sheep  Ranch,  Calaveras  County. 
Lenses  of  smaltite  (CoAs^)  liave  been  uncovered  in  the  vein,  there,  and 
several  tons  taken  out  in  the  course  of  development  work;  but  as  yet 
there  have  been  no  commercial  shipments. 

The  most  important  use  of  cobalt  is  in  the  manufacture  of  the  alloy, 
stellite.  in  which  it  is  combiiied  with  chromium,  for  making'  high-speed 
lathe  tools,  and  non-tarnishing  cutlery  and  surgeons'  appliances.  The 
metal  is  also  used  in  electroplating,  similarly  to  nickel ;  and  the  oxide, 
carbonate,  chloride,  sulphate  and  other  salts  are  used  in  ceramics  for 
coloring.  Some  of  the  organic  salts  of  cobalt  (acetate,  resinate,  oleate) 
are  employed  as  'driers'  in  paint  and  varnish. 

Present  quotations  for  colialt  are  $2.50  per  pound  for  the  refined 
metal. 

COPPER. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VIII-XXI  (inc.).    Bul- 
letins 23,  50,  91. 

Copper  is  second  only  to  gold  among  the  metals  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia. The  output  for  1924  amounted  to  a  total  of  52,089.349  pounds 
valued  at  $6,823,704,  being  nearly  double  the  quantity  and  approxi- 
matelv  a  65%  increase  in  value  over  the  1923  figures  which  were 
28,346,860  pounds  worth  $4,166,989.  The  increase  was  due  mainly  to 
resumption  of  operations  in  Shasta  County,  but  in  part  also  to  a  larger 
yield  from  Calaveras  and  Plumas  counties.  The  average  price  in  1924 
was  13.1^  per  pound,  as  against  14.7^  in  1923,  and  13.5d  in  1922. 

Plumas  County  ranked  first  for  the  year,  with  an  output  of  25,557,362 
pounds:  Shasta,  second,  with  21.109,958  pounds;  and  Calaveras,  third, 
with  4,724.441  pounds. 

Distribution  of  the  1924  copper  output,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 

Copper  Production   by  Counties..  1924. 

County  Pounds  Value 

Calaveras 4,724,441  $618,902 

Invo    79,995  10,479 

Madera 34,467  4,515 

Plumas 25,557,362  3,348,015 

Riverside 8,899  1,166 

San   Bernardino 17,667  2,314 

Shasta 21,109,958  2,765,405 

Trinity    550,000  72,050 

Alpine,   Amador,   El   Dorado,   Kern,   Los  Angeles,   Merced, 

Mono,   Nevada,   Orange,   Sierra* 6,560  858 

Totals 52,089,349  $6,823,704 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Copper  Production  of  the  United  States. 

According  to  preliminary  data  issued  by  the  V.  S.  (Jeological  Survey,^ 
the  smelter  production  of  ju-iinary  copper  from  domestic  sources  during 
1924  amounted  to  1.634,249,192  pounds,  an  increase  of  approximately 
14%.  The  value  of  smelter  production  increased  approximatelv  I'v  in 
1924.  The  average  price  of  2,620,00(),()(M)  pounds  of  copper  delivered 
durimr  the  year,  as  reported  to  the  (Jeological  Survey  by  selling  agencies, 
was  13. Ir  per  i):)und. 

'U.  S.  Geol.   Surv.,   Press  Bulletin    1978,   June.   1925. 


42 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Tramway  ttrrir.inal  and  licad-frame  at  the  Supeiior  Mine,  Engels  Copper  Company, 

Plumas  County. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANXTAL    PRODUCTION.  43 

"REFINED    COPPER. 

"Tlie  total  production  of  new  refined  copper  in  1924  was  2,260,000,000  pounds,  an 
increase  of  280,000,000  pounds  over  that  in  1923. 

"Primary  and  Secondary  Copper  Produced   by   Regular  Refining   Plants  and   Imported. 

1923-1924,   In   Pounds. 
"Primary  : 

Domestic:"  1923  1924 

Electrolvtic 1,302,454,492  1,499,223.447 

Lake   137,691,306  145.333,227 

Casting 24,019,197  29,657,925 

1,464,164,995  1,674,214,599 
Foreign  :" 

Electrolytic 509,873,512  577.100,034 

Casting 5,797,109  8,761,377 

Refinery  production  of  new  copper 1,979,835,616  2,260,076,010 

Imports  of  refined  copper 1-160,711,227  145,909,968 

Total  new  refined  copper  made  available 2,140,546,843  2,405,985.978 

Secondary : 

Electrolytic 85,297,052  104,281,430 

(lasting 46,141,409  50,536,678 

131,438,461  154,818,108 

2,271,985,304  2,560,804,086 

"The  separation  of  refined  copper  into  metal  of  domestic  and  foreign  origin  is  only 
approximate,  as  an  accurate  separation  of  the  amounts  at  this  stage  of  manufacture 
is  not  possible. 

^The  figures  of  imports  of  refined  copper  from  Chile,  reported  by  the  Chile  Explora- 
tion Co.,  have  been  inserted  in  place  of  the  figures  of  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and 
Domestic  Commerce  for  Chile,  which  are  imdoubtedly  very  low. 

"In  addition  to  their  output  of  metallic  copper  the  regular  refining  companies 
produced  bluestone  (liydrous  copper  sulphate)  having  a  copper  content  of  5,766,000 
pounds,  as  compared  with  7,987,000  pounds  in  1923. 

"STOCKS. 

"Stocks   of   Copper   January   1,    1921,    1922,    1923,    1924   and    1925,    in    Pounds. 

Blister  and 
material  in 
Refined  process  of 

Tear  copper  refining 

1921 659,000,000  465.000,000 

1922 459,000,000  283,000,000 

1923 216,000,000  361.000.000 

1924 264.000,000  432.000,000 

1925 243,000,000  393,000,000 

"The  amounts  stated  in  the  last  column  in  the  table  above  do  not  include  copper  in 
stock  at  foreign  smelters  or  in  transit  from  foreign  smelters  to  refineries  in  the 
United  States." 

Copper  Production  of  California  by  Years. 

Althou^^h  some  niininii'  of  t-opjjer  ores  in  a  small  May  had  been  done 
earlier,  shipments  in  appreciable  quantities  began  in  1861  and  continued 
of  importance  up  to  the  end  of  1867,  when  a  total  of  68.631  tons  (of 
2376  pounds)  of  high-grade  ores,  and  847  tons  of  matte  or  'regulus'^ 
had  l)een  shipped  to  smelters  at  New  York,  Boston,  and  Swansea,  Wales. 
The  most  important  district  at  that  time  was  Copperopolis  and  vicinity 
in  Calaveras  County,  with  some  shipments  also  made  from  ]\Iariposa,  El 
Dorado,  and  Fresno  counties.  From  1868  to  1882,  the  output  wa-s 
insignificant.  There  are  wide  discrepancies  in  the  figiires  currently 
recorded  for  copj)er  ])roduction  i)revious  to  1882  in  which  year  the  data 
of  the  r.  S.  Geoloyical  Survey  began.  The  detailed  statistics  of  the 
California  State  ^Mining  Bureau  began  with  the  year  .1894. 

'Brown.  J.  Ross.  Mineral  Resources  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  p.  168,  1867. 


44 


MIXER  AT.    IXDT'STRY    OF    CALIFORXIA. 


Amount  and  value  of  copper  produetion  in  California  annually  since 
1882  is  siven  in  the  f oUowino:  tabulation : 


Tear              '  Pounds  Value 

1882 826,695  $144,672 

1883 1.600.862  ,  265.743 

1884 876,166  120.911 

1885 469.028  49.248 

1886 430.210  4a021 

1887 l.eOO.OOO  192.000 

1888 1.570.021  235,303 

1889 151.505  miSO 

1890 i  23.347  3.502 

1891 !  3,397.405  424.675 

1892 :  2,980.944  342.808 

1S93 239,682  21,571 

1894 738.594  72.486 

1895 225,650  21,901 

1896 1.992.844  199.519 

1897 13.638,626  1.540666 

1898 21.543.229  2.475.168 

1899 23915.486  3.9905.34 

1900 29.515.512  4.743.242 

1901 34.931.788  5.501.7S2 

1902 27  860,162  3.239,975 

1903 19,113,861  2,520997 


Tear 


Founds 


Value 


1904 

29,974.1.54 

$3,969,995 

1905 

16.997,489 

2,650.605 

1906 

28,726,448 

5.522,712 

1907 

32,602,945 

6.341.387 

1908 

40,868,772 

5.350,777 

1909 

65.727,736 

8,478,142 

1910 

53.721,032 

6,680.641 

1911 

36,838,024 

4,604.753 

1912 

34.169,997 

5,638.049 

1913 

34,471,118 

5.343,023 

1914 

30,491.535 

4.055.375 

1915 

40.968.966 

7.169,567 

1916 

55.809.019 

13.729.017 

1917 

48,534.611 

13.249.948 

1918 

47,793,046 

11,805,883 

1919 

22.162.605 

4.122.246 

1920 

12,947.299 

2,382,303 

1921 

12.088.053 

1,559.358 

1922 

22,883.987 

3.090.582 

1923 

28,316,860 

4,166,989 

1924 

52.0S9.349 

6.823.704 

Totals 

935.S54.662 

5152.907,960 

GOLD. 

Bihlwgraphij:  State  ^lineraloei.st  Reports  I  to  XXI   (inc.V     Bul- 
letins 36.  45,  57.  91.     U.  S?  Geol.  Surv.,  Prof.  Paper  73. 

Gold  was  the  first  and,  for  many  years,  the  most  important  single 
mineral  product  of  California.  Although  now  surpassed  for  a  number 
of  years  in  annual  value  by  petroleum,  and  by  cement  beginning  with 
1920.  it  still  heads  our  metal  list,  and  California  continues  to  outrank 
all  the  other  gold-producing  states  of  the  United  States,  including 
Alaska.  In  fact,  at  present  California  is  producing  approximately  30% 
of  the  gold  mined  in  the  entire  United  States. 

Wliile  there  is  some  renewal  of  activity  in  the  development  of  gold 
lode  properties,  it  has  not  yet  become  reflected  in  an  increased  yield  of 
the  metal.    The  1924  figures  show  a  slight  decrease  from  the  1928  vield. 

The  production  of  gold  in  California  in  1924  totaled  636,139.72  fine 
ounces,  worth  .$13,150,175.  being  a  decrease  of  11.070.03  fine  ounces  from 
the  1923  yield.  As  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau  has  never  independently 
gathered  the  statistics  of  gold  and  silver  production,  these  figures. 
as  in  former  years,  are  published  by  cooperation  Avith  and  through  the 
courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Hill  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  ]Mines.  Department 
of  Commerce  ( effective  July  1,  1925,  the  former  ^lineral  Resources 
Division  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  was  combined  with  the  Bureau 
of  Mines  and  transferred  to  the  Department  of  Commerce). 

The  largest  gold  production  for  1924  is  reported  from  Nevada 
County,  with  an  output  of  136,419.04  fine  ounces  ($2,820,032)  :  Amador 
County,  with  130.927.34  ounces  ($2,706,508)  was  second;  followed  by 
Yuba  and  Sacramento  in  third  and  fourth  places,  respectively.  The 
drop  of  Yuba  County  from  first  place,  which  it  has  held  recently,  was 
due  to  a  decline  in  dredge  vield. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


45 


Distribution  of  the  1924  gold  production,  by  counties,  was  as  follows : 


Gold   Production   by  Counties,  1924. 


County 

Amador 

Butte 

Calaveras 

Del  Norte 

El  Dorado  

Fresno    

Humboldt    -- 

Imperial 

Inyo    

Kern 

Lassen   

Los  Angeles 

Madera 

Mariposa 

Merced 


Value 

2.706,50 

484,53 

853.96 

32 

28,20 

32,97 

1,26 

25 

19,97 

154,13 

2,25 

75 

3,20 

182,09 

35 


Countj- 

Mono    

Nevada    

Placer  

Plumas 

Riverside 

Sacramento 

San  Bernardino 

San  Diego 

Shasta 

Sierra 

Siskiyou 

Stanislaus 

Trinity 

Tuolumne 

Yuba    


Value 

$49,651 

2,820,032 

108,757 

277,571 

1,070 

1,150,687 

187,573 

4,830 

346,622 

799,276 

63,570 

196,019 

422,281 

255,994 

1,995.434 


Total $13,150,175 

The  following  is  quoted  from  the  advance  chapter  on  Gold  in  1924, 
by  courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  ^I.  Hill  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  ]\Iines : 

"The  gold  production  in  California  in  1924  is  valued  at  $13,150,175,  bringing  the 
total  production  of  the  State  to  $1,776,177,215.  It  is  difficult  to  credit  the  gold 
reported  as  produced  in  California  to  the  several  counties  and  to  placers  and  deep 
mines,  for  much  of  the  gold  reaches  the  mint  with  no  means  of  identifying  its  origin. 
A  large  part  of  this  gold  is  won  by  small  mine  owners  who  do  not  respond  to  the 
Geological  Survey's  inquiries,  and  a  considerable  part  is  without  doubt  the  result  of 
operations  by  'high-graders.'  For  1924  it  is  estimated  that  at  least  $510,000  worth 
of  gold  belongs  in  this  class.  Bankers  and  storekeepers  at  such  centers  as  Sonora, 
Angels  Camp,  Jackson,  Nevada  City,  Grass  Valley,  Oroville,  Redding,  and  Yreka 
purchase  or  ship  gold  that  comes  from  a  considerable  territory  tributary  to  those 
towns,  and  often  no  record  is  kept  of  the  persons  for  whom  the  bullion  is  handled 
or  of  its  origin.  These  lots  are  usually  small,  but  in  the  course  of  a  year  they 
aggregate  a  considerable  number  of  ounces,  which  must  be  apportioned  according 
to  the  Survey's  best  judgment. 

"In  1924  there  were  41  companies  that  produced  over  1,000  ounces  of  gold  each, 
which  contributed  91  per  cent  of  the  total  gold  output  of  California.  Of  these,  13 
operated  dredges,  24  operated  gold  quartz  mines,  3  copper  mines,  1  a  silver  mine,  and 
1  a  gravel  pit.  The  ten  largest  gold-producing  companies,  in  order  of  output,  were 
the  Yuba  Consolidated  Gold  Fields  (5  dredges),  Natomas  Co.  of  California  (S  dredgesj , 
Empire  Mines  Co.  (gold  quartz).  North  Star  Mines  Co.  (gold  quartz).  Kennedy 
Mining  &  Milling  Co.  (gold  quartz),  Carson  Hill  Gold  Mines  (Inc.)  (gold  quartz). 
Argonaut  Mining  Co.  (gold  quartz).  Sixteen  to  One  Mines  Co.  (gold  quartz),  Central 
Eureka  Mining  Co.  (gold  quartz).  Marigold  Dredging  Co.  (1  dredge).  These  com- 
panies were  likewise  the  largest  producers  of  gold  in  1923,  but  the  relative  production 
of  the  last  7  has  changed. 

"Four  counties  produced  more  than  $1,000,000  in  gold  in  1924,  Calaveras  having 
fallen  below  that  figure.  Nevada  and  Amador  counties,  whose  production  is  from  gold 
quartz  mines,  passed  Yuba  and  Sacramento  counties,  whose  dredge  yield  was  con- 
siderably less  than  in  1923.  Named  in  rank  th-  counties  in  1924  were:  Nevada, 
$2,820,032;    Amador,    $2,706,508;    Yuba.    $1,995,434:   Sacramento,$1.150,6S7. 

"In  1924  deep  mines  produced  65  per  cent  and  placer  mines  35  per  cent  of  the 
total  gold  output,  as  compared  with  51  per  cent  and  49  per  cent  in  1923. 

"The  yield  of  placer-gold  in  1924  was  valued  at  $4,588,372,  a  decrease  of  30  per 
cent  as  compared  with  1923.  The  decrease  was  attributable  almost  entirely  to  the 
decrease  of  29  per  cent  in  yield  of  dredges,  which  produced  94  per  cent  of  the  total 
gold  produced  b>-  placers,  though  due  to  drought  conditions  all  classes  of  placer 
mining  .showed  a  decided  falling  off  in  production.  There  were  27  dredges,  51  drift 
mines,  47  hydraulic  mines,  and  141  surface  placers  operated  in  1924.  Drift  mining 
in  1924  yielded  47  per  cent,  hydraulic  mining  46  per  cent,  and  surface  or  sluice  mining 
23  per  cent  less  gold  than  in  1923.  There  was  a  considerable  faling  off  of  dredge 
production  in  Yuba  and  Shasta  counties,  and  the  only  counties  in  which  dredges 
worked  that  showed  an  increased  yield  were  Butte  and  Stanislaus.  The  yield  in  gold 
from  drift  mines  was  $86,203  less  than  in  1923.  There  were  slight  gains  in  yield 
of  drift  mines  in  El  Dorado,  Plumas,  and  Tuolumne  counties,  but  large  declines 
in  yield  from  those  in  Sierra.  Nevada,  Butte,  and  Calaveras  counties.  Gold  produced 
at  hydraulic  mines  in  1924  decreased  $51,633  as  compared  with  1923.  Siskiyou 
and  Trinity  County  mines  were  most  productive  as  usual,  though  in  both  counties 
the  production  of  hydraulic  mines  was  less  than  in  1923.  Some  gold  was  produced 
by  surface  mining  in  every  county  of  the  State  that  reported  production,  but  the 
individual  yield  of  this  class  of  mining  is  relatively  small. 

"The  production  of  gold  from  deep  mines  was  valued  at  $8,561,803,  an  increase  of 
25  per  cent  as  compared  with  the  production  in  1923.  The  yield  from  mines  in  Sierra, 
Tuolumne,  and  Calaveras  counties  declined,  but  in  Amador.  Nevada.  Plumas,  and 
Shasta  there  was  a  considerable  increase — the  two  former  counties  from  gold  ores 
and  the  last  two  from  copper  ores.  Of  the  267  deep  mines  that  reported  production 
29  reported  production  of  gold  exceeding  $20,000  and  only  two  of  more  than  $1,000,000. 
Nevada  County  maintained  its  lead  as  premier  producer  of  gold  from  deep  mines, 
but  Amador  mines  ran  a  close  second.  Practically  93  per  cent  of  the  gold  produced 
by  deep  mines   was  from   dry  gold  ores,   5   per  cent  from  copper  ores,   and  almost   2 


46 


MINERAL    IXDI^STRY    OF    (ALIFORXIA. 


Surfric:-   plant    di 


d-frarn.^   an.]   mill)    r.f  Ii"iaii.:>->I:ir>  land  ^Miii 
Xevada  County. 


Tlrass  Vallev. 


Filters  in  cyanide  plant  of  Empire  Mine,  Grass  Valley,  Xevada  County. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  47 

per  cent  from  silver  ores.  Of  the  total  gold  approximately-  64  per  cent  was  saved 
by  amalgamation,  15  per  cent  by  cyanidation,  15  per  cent  by  smelting,  and  6  per 
cent  by  hand-mortaring  and  melting." 

Total  Gold   Production  of  California. 

The  presenee  of  gold  in  stream  gravels  near  Los  Angeles  was  known 
and  worked  in  a  small  way  ])y  tli(»  Indians,  at  least  as  early  as  1841,^ 
and  possibly  1820.-  On  ^lareh  2.  1844.  Don  ]Manuel  C'astanares,  deputy 
for  California  to  the  Congre.ss  of  ]\lexieo,  reported'  to  his  govern- 
ment that  placers  near  Los  Angeles  had  produced  np  to  December,  1848, 
a  total  of  200U  ounces  of  gold  dust,  most  of  whieh  had  been  sent  to  the 
I'nited  States  mint  at  Philadelphia. 

As  the  padres  and  the  rancheros  discouraged  the  <piest  of  gohl  this 
early,  small  jn-oduction  caused  no  particular  excitement.  It  was  not 
until  James  W.  ^larshall's  finding  of  gold  nuggets  in  the  tail-race  of 
Sutter's  saw  i^iill  on  the  American  River,  January  24,  1848,  was 
heralded  abroad  that  the  great  rush  began,  and  California  became 
a  commonwealth  of  first  rank  almost  over  night.  There  are,  however, 
no  authentic  data  on  gold  production  prior  to  1848,  other  than  occa- 
sional, scattered  references  such  as  above  quoted. 

The  following  tal)le  was  originally  cnmj^iled  l)y  Chas.  (J.  Yale,  of  the 
Division  of  .Mineral  Resourees.  U.  S.  Geologieal  Survey.  l)ut  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  statistician  of  the  California  State  ^Mining  Bureau  and  the 
U.  S.  ]\rint  at  San  Francisco.  The  authorities  chosen  for  certain  periods 
were :  J.  D.  Whitney,  state  geologist  of  California ;  John  Arthur 
Phillips,  author  of  ''^Mining  and  Metallurgy'  of  Gold  and  Silver" 
(1867);  U.  S.  Mining  Commisisioner  R.  W.  Raymond;  U.  S.  Mining 
Commissioner  J.  Ross  Browne:  Wm.  P.  Blake,  Commissioner  from  Cali- 
fornia to  the  Paris  Exposition,  where  he  made  a  report  on  "Precious 
Metals''  (1867)  ;  John  J.  Valentine,  author  for  many  years  of  the 
annual  report  on  precious  metals  published  by  Wells,  Fargo  &  Com- 
pany's Express;  and  Louis  A.  Garnett.  in  the  early  days  manager  of 
the  San  Francisco  refinery,  where  records  of  gold  receipts  and  ship- 
ments were  kept.  ^Ir.  Yale  obtained  other  data  from  the  reports  of 
the  director  of  the  V.  S.  ^lint  and  the  director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey.  The  authorities  referred  to,  who  were  alive  at  the  time  of  the 
original  compilation  of  this  table  in  1894,  were  all  consulted  in  person 
or  by  letter  by  'Sir.  Yale  with  reference  to  the  correctness  of  their 
published  data,  and  the  final  table  quoted  was  then  made  up. 

'Hittell,  T.  H..  History  of  California:  Vol.  II,  p.  312,  1885. 
^Bancroft.  H.  H.,  History  of  California:  Vol.  II.  p.   417,   1886. 
Mercantile  Trust  Review  of  the  Pacific,  \^1.  XIV.  No.  2,  p.  43,  Feb.   15,  1925. 


48 


MIXERAI.    INDISTHY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  figures  since  1904  are  those  prepared  by  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey : 


Year 


Value 


Year 


Value 


184S $245,: 

1&49 ." 10,151, 

1S50 41,273, 

1851 ..]  75,938,: 

1852 I  81,294; 

1853 '  67,613. 

1854 69,433,' 

1855 55,485,: 

1856 57,509,- 

1857 43,628, 

1858 46,591, 

1859 45,846,. 

1860 44,095, 

1861.. I  41,884,! 

1S62 '  38,854,( 

1863 '  23,501, 

1864 24,071, 

1865 I  17,930,1 

1866 17,123,i 

1867... 18,265, 

1868 I  17.555,: 

1869 18,229,1 

1870 '  17,458, 

1871 17,47; 

1872 i  15,482, 

1873 15,019,: 

1874 !  17,264,; 

1875 16.876,( 

1876 15,610,: 

1877. I  16,501, 

1878 18,839, 

1879 19,626,1 

1880 20.030,' 

1881 19.223, 

1882 17,146, 

1883 24,316.: 

1884 13,600,( 

1885 12,661,1 

1886 14,716,; 


,301  , 

1887 

S13,5SS,614 

,360  I 

1888 

12,750.000 

,106  1 

1889 

!     11.212,913 

,232  ■ 

1890 

;     12,309,793 

.700  ! 

1891 

;     12,728.869 

487  ■ 

1892 

12,571.900 

931 

1893 

12,422,811 

,395 

1894 

'     13,923.281 

,411 

1895 

15.334.317 

,172 

1896 

17.181..562 

,140  1 

1897 

15.871.401 

,599  ' 

1898... 

15,906,478 

,163  , 

1899 

15,336,031 

,995 

1900 

15,863,355 

,668  ! 

1901 

16,989,044 

.736  ( 

1902 

16,910.320 

,423 

1903 

16.471.264 

,858 

1904 

'     19.109.600 

,867 

1905 

19,197.043 

,452 

1906 

18,732,452 

,867 

1907 

16,727.928 

,044 

1908 

18,761.559 

,133 

1909 

20,237,870 

,885 

1910 

19.715,440 

,194  , 

1911 

19,738.908 

,210  ' 

1912 

19,713.478 

,836 

1913 

20,406.958 

,009 

1914. 

20,653.496 

,723 

1915 

:     22.442,296 

,268 

1916 .- 

i     21,410,741 

,141 

1917 

20,087,504 

,654 

1918 

16,529,162 

.761 

1919 

16,695,955 

,155 

1920 

14,311,043 

.416 

1921 

15.704,822 

.873 

1922   .   

14.670.346 

,000 

1923 

j     13.379,013 

.044  , 

1924 

1     13.150.175 

,506 

1 

Total  value 

$1,777,122,457 

IRIDIUM    (see   under   Platinum). 

IRON   ORE. 

Biblioc/raphi/:  State  ^Mineraloirist  Reuorts  II.  IV.  V.  X.  XII-XV 
fine.^ .  XVII.  XVIII.  XXI.  Bulletins  38.  67.  91.  Am.  Inst.  Min. 
Ens..  Trans.  LIII.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  115.  pp.  112.  117-122 ; 
Vol.  123.  pp.  94-96,  113-114. 

A  small  tonnage  of  iron  ore  wa.s  produced  in  California  during  the 
year  1924.  and  utilized  for  foundry  flu.x  and  in  steel  refining  at  open- 
hearth  plants.  As  there  was  ojily  a  single  operator,  the  figures  are 
concealed  under  the  'unappcitioned"  total.  There  is  also  some  tonnage 
utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  paint  pigment,  and  wliit-h  is  credited  to 
'mineral  paint'  in  these  statistical  reports. 

There  are  considerable  deposits  of  iron  ore  known  in  California, 
notably  in  Shasta,  ^Madera.  Placer,  River.side  and  San  Bernardino 
counties,  but  production  has  so  far  been  limited  for  lack  of  an  economic 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


49 


supply  of  coking  coal.  Some  pig-iron  has  been  made,  utilizing  charcoal 
for  fuel,  both  in  blast  furnaces  and  by  electrical  reduction;  also,  ferro- 
clirome,  ferro-iiianganese.  and  ferro-silicon  have  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

Total    Iron  Ore   Production   of  California. 

Total  iron  ore  production  in  California,  with  annual  amounts  and 
values,  is  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1881* 

1882  . 

1883  . 

1884  . 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 


9.273 

2,073 

11.191 

4,532 


$79,452 
17,766 

106,540 
40,983 


3,676 

19.250 

250 

2,000 
1,500 

200 

..    400 

400 

108  174 
579  900 
5.58     558 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1912  . 

1913  . 

1914  . 

1915  . 

1916  . 

1917  . 

1918  . 

1919  . 

1920  . 
1921 

1922  . 

1923  , 
1924- 


2,508 

S2.508 

2,343 

4.485 

1,436 

5,128 

724 

2,584 

3.000 

6,000 

2,874 

11,496 

3,108 

15,947 

2,300 

13,796 

5,975 

40.889 

1,970 

12,030 

3,588 

18,868 

3.102 

18,665 

Totals. 


65,748      $521,919 


•Productions  for  the  year  1881-1886  (inc.)  were  reported  as  "tons  of  pig  iron"  (U.  S.  G.  S., 
Min.  Res.  1885),  and  for  the  table  herewith  are  calculated  to  "tons  of  ore"  on  the  basis  of 
47.6%  Fe  as  shown  by  an  average  of  analyses  of  the  ores  (State  Mineralogist  Report  IV,  p.  242). 
This  early  production  of  pig  iron  was  from  the  blast  furnaces  then  in  operation  at  Hotaling  In 
Placer  County.  Charcoal  was  used  in  lieu  of  coke.  Though  producing  a  superior  grade  oi 
metal,  they  were  obliged  finally  to  close  down,  as  they  could  not  compete  with  the  cheaper 
English  and  eastern  United  States  iron  brought  in  by  sea  to  San  Francisco. 
^'Concealed  under  'unapportioned.' 

LEAD. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  lY,  VIII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII-XXI  (inc.). 

Lead  production  in  California  in  1924  decreased  to  approximately 
50%  of  the  amount  shown  in  the  preceding  year.  The  principal  output 
was  from  silver-lead  ores  from  Inyo  County.  The  total  recoverable  lead 
in  ores  shipped  from  Californian  mines  in  1924  amounted  to  4,984,387 
pounds  valued  at  if!398,751,  compared  with  9,934.r)22  pounds  and 
.4(695,416  in  1923.  The  average  price  in  1924  was  8.(V  as  against  7.0^ 
in  1923,  5.5^  in  1922,  and  3.9<^  in  1913. 

The  1924  production  was  distributed  by  counties  as  follows: 


Lead    Production,    by   Counties,    1924. 
County 

Inyo 

Mono 

Riverside    

San   Bernardino 

Shasta 

Alpine,   Amador,    Calaveras,   Kern,   Los  Angeles,   Merced, 
Nevada,  Orange*  

Totals 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each 


Pounds 

Value 

4,813,718 

32,458 

26,817 

31,668 

f.,615 

$385,098 

2,597 

2.145 

2.533 

529 

73,111 

5,849 

4,984,387 

$398,751 

4—41922 


50 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Lead    Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Statistics  on  lead  production  in  California  were  first  compiled  by 
this  Bureau  in  1887.  Amount  and  value  of  the  output,  annually,  witii 
total  figures,  to  date,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Tear  Pounds  Value 

1887 1,160,000  $62,200 

1888 900,000  38,250 

1889 940.000  35,720 

1890  -— 800,000  36,000 

1891 1,140,000  49.020 

1892 1,360,000  54.400 

1893 666.000  24,975 

1894 950.000  28,500 

1895 1,592,400  49.364 

1896 1.293.500  38,805 

1897 596.000  20,264 

1898 655,000  23.907 

1899 721.000  30,642 

190O 1.040.000  41.600 

1901 720.500  28.820 

1902 349.440  12.230 

1903 110.000  3.960 

1904 124.000  5.270 

1905 533.680  25.083 

1906  338,718  19,307 


Tear 


Pounds 


Value 


1907 328,681  $16,690 

1908 1,124,483  46,66:3 

1909 :  2,685,477  144,897 

1910 I  3.016,902  134,082 

1911 '  1,403,839  63,173 

1912 1.370,067  61,653 

1913 3.640,9.51  160.202 

1914 4,697.400  183,198 

1915 4.796,299  225,426 

1916 12,392,031  855,049 

1917 21.651,352  1,862,016 

1918 13,464.869  956.006 

1919 4,139,562  219.397 

1920 4.903,738  392,300 

1921 1.149,051  51,707 

1922 6.511.280  358.120 

1923 9.934.522  695,416 

1924 4,984.387  '        398.751 


Totals 11S.1S&,12»    $7,443,063 


MANGANESE. 

BihUographil :  State  Mineralosist  Reports  XII.  XIII.  XIV.  XY. 
XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  67.  76.  91.  V.  S.  G.  S..  Bull.  427.  Eng.  & 
]Min.  Jour. -Press,  Vol.  117,  p.  545. 

ilanganese  ore  shipments  in  California  in  1924  amounted  to  a  total 
of  1115  tons  of  all  grades  valued  at  $25,785.  being  an  increase  in  both 
quantity  and  value  over  the  1923  yield  which  fotaled  690  tons  and 
$10,620  value.  These  ores  showed  analyses  of  from  46^^  to  59%  ]Mn 
and  were  utilized  almost  entirely  by  Pacific  Coast  plants  for  ferro- 
manganese. 

Importations  of  foreign  manganese  ores  in  1924.  mainly  from  Brazil, 
amounted  to  a  total  of  255.157  lona:  tons  valued  at  $6,084,686,  compared 
with  206.048  tons  and  $3,874,510  in  1923.  The  tariff  act  of  1922  pro- 
vides for  an  import  duty  of  1^  per  pound  on  the  metallic  manganese 
contained,  for  "manganese  ore  or  concentrates  containing  in  excess  of 
30  per  centum  of  metallic  manganese."  The  bulk  of  such  ore  is  con- 
sumed in  the  large  steel-producing  centers  of  the  eastern  United  States. 

Manganese  Ore  Production   in  California,  by  Years. 

Production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  began  at  the  Ladd  Mine, 
San  Joacpiin  County,  in  the  Tesla  District  in  1867.  When  .shipments 
of  this  ore  to  England  ceased  late  in  1874,  upwards  of  5000  tons  had 
been  produced  by  that  property.  For  some  years  following  that,  the 
output  was  small.    The  tabulation  herewith  shows  the  California  output 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


51 


of  manganese  ore,  annually,  since  1887,  when  the  compilation  of  such 
figures  was  begun  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau : 


T«4r 

Tons 

I 
Valu« 

TMr 

Tom 

Vslua 

1887 

1.000 

$9,000 

1907  ... 

1 

$25 

1888 

1,500 

13,500 

1908  ... 

321 

5,785 

1889 

53 

901 

1909  ... 

__. 

3 

75 

1890 

386 

3,176 

1910  ... 

265 

4,235 

1891 

705 

3,830 

1911  ... 

2 

40 

1892 

300 

3,000 

1912  ... 

22 

400 

1893 

270 

4,050 

1913  ... 



1894 

523 

5,512 

1914  ... 

150 

1.500 

1895 

880 

8,200 

1915  ... 

4,013 

49,098 

1896 

518 

3,415 

1916  .. 

13,404 

274,601 

1897 

504 

4.080 

1917  — 



15.515 

396.669 

1898 

440 

2,102 

1918  — 



26,075 

979,235 

1899 

295 

3,165 

1919  ... 

11,569 

451.422 

1900 .• 

131 

1,310 

1920  ... 

2,892 

62,323 

1901 

425 

4.405 

1921  ... 

1,005 

12,210 

1902 

870 

7,140 

1922  ... 

540 

7.650 

1903 

1 

25 

1923... 

690 

10.820 

1904 

60 

900 

1924 

Totals 

1,115 

25.785 

1905 

86,444 

1906 

1 

30 

^$2,359,404 

MOLYBDENUM. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XIV,  XVII.  Bulletin 
67.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Min.,  Bulletin  111.  Proc.  Colo.  Sei.  Soc, 
Vol.  XI. 

Molybdenuni  is  used  as  an  alloy  constituent  in  the  steel  industry, 
and  in  certain  forms  of  electrical  apparatus.  Included  in  the  latter 
is  its  successful  substitution  for  i)latinuni  and  platinum-iridium  in 
electric  contact-making  and  breaking  devices.  In  alloys  it  is  used 
similarly  to  and  in  conjunction  with  chromium,  co])alt,  iron,  manganese, 
nickel,  tungsten,  and  vanadium.  The  oxides  and  the  ammnnium  salt 
have  important  chemical  uses. 

The  two  principal  molybdenuni  minerals  are :  the  sulphide,  molyb- 
denite ;  and  w^ulfenite,  lead  molybdate ;  the  former  furnishing  prac- 
tically the  entire  commercial  output.  Molybdenite  is  found  in  or  asso- 
ciated Avith  acidic  igneous  rocks,  such  as  granite  and  pegmatite.  The 
chief  commercial  sources  have  been  New  South  Wales,  Queen.sland,  and 
Norway,  with  some  also  from  Canada. 

Deposits  of  disseminated  molybdenite  are  known  in  several  localities 
in  California,  and  in  at  least  two  places  it  occurs  in  small  masses 
associated  with  copper  sulphides.  The  only  recorded  commercial  ship- 
ments of  molybdenum  ore  in  California  were  during  the  war,  1916- 
1918.  Some  development  work  has  l>en  recently  done  on  a  high-grade 
deposit  at  the  head  of  the  Kaweah  River,  Tulare  County. 

Present  ciuotations  for  molybdenum  ore  are  65^-70^  per  pound  for 
85%  MoSg  concentrates. 


52  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

California's    production    of    molybdenum    ore    by  years    is   summa- 
I  i/ed  ill  tile  following  tal)ulatioii : 

^'f-ar  Tons               Value 

1916 8                $9,943 

}^^I — —  243                  9,014 

191S .                      300 


Totals    2."!  $19,259 

*300  pounds  of  90%  M0S2  concentrate. 

NICKEL. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogri.st  Reports  XIV,  XVII.  U.  S.  C.  S., 
Bulletin  640-D.     U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Circular  100. 

Nickel  occurs  in  the  Friday  Copper  Mine  in  the  Julian  District,  San 
Diego  County.  The  ore  is  a  nickel-bearing  pyrrhotite.  with  some 
associated  chalcopjo-ite.  Some  ore  has  been  mined  in  the  course  of 
development  work,  but  not  treated  nor  disposed  of,  as  they  were  unable 
to  get  any  smelter  to  handle  it  for  them.  Nickel  ore  has  also  been 
reported  from  other  localities  in  California,  but  not  yet  confirmed. 

Present  quotations  for  nickel  are  around  34<-  per  pound  for  the 
refined  metal. 

OSMIUM    (see   under   Platinum). 

PALLADIUM    (see   under  Platinum). 

PLATINUM. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VIIT,  IX,  XII- 
XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  45.  67.  85.  91,  92.  U.  S.  C4eol.  Surv.  Bulle- 
tins 193,  285.  Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng..  Vol.  47.  pp. 
217^218. 

In  California  platinum  is  obtained  as  a  by-product  from  placer 
operations  for  gold.  The  ma.jor  portion  of  it  comes  from  the  dredges 
working  in  Butte.  Calaveras.  Sacramento.  Stanislaus,  and  Yuba  coun- 
ties, with  .smaller  amounts  from  the  hydraulic  and  surface-sluicing 
mines  of  Del  Norte,  Humboldt.  Shasta,  Siskiyou  and  Trinity. 

The  production  of  platinum-group  metals  in  California  for  the  year 
1924  totaled  337  ounces,  crude,  containing  273  fine  ounces,  valued  at 
$36,452.  Of  this  amount,  a  total  of  275  ounces,  crude,  or  82%,  came 
from  the  gold  dredges.  This  is  less  than  509f  of  the  602  fine  ounces 
worth  $78,546  sold  in  1923,  the  decrease  being  due  to  cessation  of  dredg- 
ing in  Shasta  and  to  a  lessened  output  in  Tuba  County. 

The  above  noted  total  of  273  fine  ounces  includes  84  fine  ounces  of 
osmiridium  and  iridium,  also  some  palladium.  Most  of  the  platinum 
refiners  pay  for  the  osmiridium  on  the  basis  of  its  iridium  content. 
Crude  'platinum'  is  really  a  mixture  of  the  metals  of  that  group,  and 
carries  varying  percentages  of  platinum,  iridium,  and  osmiridium  or 
iridosmine.  with  occasionally  some  palladium.     Iron,  in  amount  from 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  53 

5%  to  15%  is  found  alloyed  naturally  with  most  platinum  as  are  also 
smaller  amounts  of  palladium,  rhodium,  iridium,  and  osmium,  also 
sometimes  from  0.5%  to  2%  of  copper.  Osmiridium  firidosmine) 
sometimes  also  carries  ruthenium  in  addition  to  the  other  members  of 
the  group  above  mentioned. 

In  addition  to  the  above-noted  production,  there  is  usually  some  plati- 
num recovered  as  a  by-product  in  the  gold  refinery  of  the  mint,  but 
which  can  not  be  assigned  to  the  territory  of  its  origin  for  lack  of  know- 
ing to  which  lots  of  gold  it  belongs.  The  San  Francisco  mint  has 
recovered  as  high  as  KJO  ounces  of  platinum  in  a  single  year  from  this 
source,  some  of  which  unquestionably  came  from  California  mines. 
Some  platinum  and  palladium  are  also  recovered  in  the  electrolytic 
refining  of  blister  copper. 

According  to  Hill,^  the  refined  platinum  metals  recovered  in  192-4  by 
refiners  of  the  United  States  from  crude  platinum,  from  ore  and  con- 
centrates, and  from  gold  and  copper  refining  amounted  to  6(3,007  ounces 
of  which  7,280  ounces  is  believed  to  have  come  from  domestic  materials. 

For  1924,  the  distribution  by  counties  of  California's  platinum  yield 
Avas  as  follows: 

Platinum    Production    by   Counties,    1924. 

Fine 

County  ounces  value 

Butte     — a  20  $2,829 

Shasta    27  3.361 

Trinity    11  1.839 

Yuba 73  8,773 

Calaveras,    Del    Norte,     Humboldt,    Mendocino,     Sacramento," 

Siskiyou,  Stanislaus* 142  19,650 

Totals 273  $36,452 

"Includes  palladium. 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Russia,  previous  to  1916,  was  producing  from  90*;^  to  95%  of  the 
world's  platinum,  but  for  several  years  folloAnng  was  reduced  to  practi- 
cally nothing;  and  has  not  yet  recovered  her  former  position.  Colombia 
ranked  in  second  place,  but  now  leads.  California  is  the  leading  pro- 
ducer in  the  United  States. 

Uses,   Markets,  and   Consumption. 

Besides  its  well-known  uses  in  jewelry,  dentistry  and  for  chemical- 
ware,  an  important  industrial  development  of  recent  years  employs 
platinum  as  a  catalyzer  in  the  'contact  process'  of  manufacturing  con- 
centrated sulphuric  acid.  It  is  also  necessary  for  certain  delicate  parts 
of  the  ignition  systems  in  automobiles,  motor  boats  and  aeroplanes. 
Experiments  have  been  made  to  find  alloys  which  can  replace  platinum 
for  dishes  and  crucibles  in  analytical  work.  Init  so  far  with  only  slight 
success. 


^Hill.   J.   M.,   Platinum  and  allied  metals   in    1924  :   U.   S.   Geol.    Surv.,    Press  Bull., 
June  18,  1925. 


54 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


According  to  HilP  the  total  consumption  of  platinum  metals  in  the 
United  States  in  192-1  was  165,018  troy  ounces,  a  decrease  from  that 
consumed  in  1923,  distributed  as  follows : 

"Platinum    Metals   Consumed    in    the    United   States   as    Reported    by    Refiners,   1923   and   1924,    by 
Industries,    in    Troy    Ounces. 


Industry 

Platinum 

Iridium 

Palladium 

Others 

Total 

Percentage 
of  total 

1924 

10,507 
16,588 
11,092 
87.151 
5,012 

122 
1,269 

131 
2,204 

634 

436 
3,099 
10.049 
12,480 
2,122 

403 

11,468 

20,956 

21,272 

102.581 

8,741 

Electrical 

13 

Dental 

13 

746 
973 

6'' 

Miscellaneous. 

Totals  - 

130,350 

8.637 

18,596 

16,288 

105,699 

3,156 

4,360 

190 
1,675 

153 
3,073 
1,403 

28,186 

485 
3,666 
10,116 
14,948 

986 

2,122 
266 

165,018 

9,578 
23,937 
26,557 
123,910 

6,8.01 

100 

1923 
Chemical 

Electrical 

13 

Dental 

14 

Jewelry ..     .  .  ._ 

190 
1,256 

65 

3 

Totals . 

152,376 

6,494 

30,201 

1,712 

190,783 

100 

"Stocks. 

"At  the  end  of  1924  the  stocks  of  crude  platinum  metals  in  the  hands  of  refiners  was  74,539  oonces,  an  increase  of  3,814 
ounces  as  compared  with  stocks  on  January  1. 

"Stocks  of  platinum  metals  in  hands  of  refiners  in  the  United  States  Deceml)er  31,  1919-1924,  in  troy  ounces: 


Metal 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

Platinum.. 

29,228 

3,359 

10,235 

610 

46,747 

4,196 

16,565 

216 

38,514 
4,991 

21,042 
3,113 

41,900 
7,559 

24,975 
1,583 

36,554 
5,208 

26,266 
2,697 

40,464 
3,622 
27  400 

Iridium 

Others 

3  053 

Platinum    Production  of  California  by  Years. 

The  annual  production  and  value  since  1887,  have  been  as  follows ; 


Ounces 

Value 

100 

$400 

500 

2,000 

500 

2,000 

600 

2,500 

100 

500 

80 

440 

75 

517 

lOO 

600 

im 

900 

162 

944 

150 

900 

300 

1,800 

300 

1,800 

400 

2,500 

250 

3,200 

39 

468 

70 

1.052 

123 

1.849 

200 

3,320 

Year 


Ounces 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 


1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

Totals 13.900 


91 

$1,647 

300 

6,255 

706 

13,414 

416 

10,400 

mi  i 

8.386 

£11  \ 

14,873 

603  : 

19,731 

368  ' 

17.738 

463  j 

14,816 

667  t 

21.149 

886 

42,642 

610 

43,719 

57] 

42,788 

*418 

60.611 

477 

68.977 

613 

58,754 

795 

90.288 

002 

78.546 

273 

36.452 

$678,876 


♦Fine  ounces,  beginning  with  1919. 
''Idem. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  55 

QUICKSILVER. 

Bibliographij:  State  :Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  Y.  XII-XY.  XYII- 
XIX  (inc.).  Bulletins  27,  78,  91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  :\rono- 
graph  XIII.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Tech.  Papers  96,227; 
Bulletin  222. 

Quicksilver  was  produced  in  California  in  seven  counties  during  192-1 
to  the  amount  of  7948  tiasks  valued  at  $543,080,  being  an  increase  of 
nearly  50%  both  in  amount  and  value  over  the  1923  output  of  5458 
flasks  and  $332,851.  The  average  price  received  during  1924,  according 
to  the  producers'  reports  to  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  was  $68.33  per 
flask,  as  against  $60.98  in  1923,  and  the  record  averasre  of  $114.03  for 
the  year  1918. 

The  average  of  San  Francisco  quotations  for  1924  was  $68.69  per 
flask,  the  price  varying  from  $59.35  in  January,  to  $75  in  April,  declin- 
ing to  $69  early  in  December,  but  ending  the  year  at  $72.65.  For  the 
current  ye^r,  1925,  quotations  are  ranging  higher,  the  average  for  the 
month  of  September  being  $81.73. 

The  above  noted  yield  of  7948  flasks  in  1924  was  won  from  a  total  of 
61,595  tons  of  ore.  being  an  average  content  of  9.7  pounds  per  ton,  or 
0.485%  mercury. 

The  increase  in  1924  was  due  to  greater  output  at  the  New  Idria 
Mine  in  San  Benito  County. 

The  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  reports  the  total  production  of  the  United 
States  for  1924  at  9600  flasks  (75  pounds,  net),  valued  at  $659,424 
(using  the  $68.69  average  of  quotations).  Outside  of  California,  the 
principal  yield  was  from  Texas,  with  a  few  flasks  from  Nevada,  Oregon, 
Idaho,  and  Alaska.     California's  contribution  was  8^2.5%  of  the  total. 

According  to  the  bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce  records, 
there  was  imported  a  total  of  12,076  flasks  of  quicksilver  in  1924,  mainly 
from  Spain  and  Italv,  compared  with  20,915  fla.sks  and  $901,031  in 
1923.  In  1924,  a  total  of  208  flasks,  valued  at  $.14,333,  was  exported, 
as  against  318  flasks  worth  $25,195  in  1923. 

The  1923  quicksilver  production  in  California  was  distributed  by 
counties,  as  follows : 

Quicksilver  Production   by  Counties,   1924. 

County  Flasks  Value 

San    Benito    — 4,670  $320,758 

Sonoma    867  60,840 

Lake,  Monterey,  Napa,  Santa  Clara,  San  Luis  Obispo* 2,411  161,482 

Totals   7,948  $543,080 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Uses. 

The  most  important  uses  of  (juicksilver  are  the  recovery  of  gold  and 
silver  by  amalgamation,  and  in  tb.e  manufacture  of  fulminate  for 
explosive  caps,  of  druss,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  appa- 
ratus. By  far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  the  manufacture  of  ful- 
minate and  drugs. 

Total   Quicksilver   Production   of  California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  the  quicksilver  production  of  California, 
as  given   in   available  records,   is  shown   in   the   following   tabulation. 


56 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Though  the  New  Ahnaden  Mine  in  Santa  Clara  County  was  first  worked 
in  1824,  and  has  been  in  practically  continuous  operation  since  1846 
(though  the  yield  was  small  the  first  two  years),  there  are  no  available 
data  on  the  output  earlier  than  1850.  Previous  to  June,  ,1904,  a  'flask' 
of  quicksilver  contained  76^  pounds,  but  since  that  date  75  pounds.  In 
compiling  this  table  the  following  sources  of  information  were  used: 
for  1850-1883,  table  bv  J.  B.  Randol,  in  Eeport  of  State  IMineralogist, 
IV,  p.  336;  1883-1893",  U.  S.  Geological  Sur\^ey  reports;  1894  to  elate, 
statistical  bulletins  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau;  also  State  Alining 
Bureau,  Bulletin  27,  "Quicksilver  Resources  of  California,"  1908, 
p.  10: 


Year 


Flasks 


Average 

Value 

price  per 

flask 

$768,052 

$99  45 

1,859,248 

66  93 

1,166,600 

58  33 

1,235,648 

55  45 

1,663,722 

55  45 

1,767,150 

53  55 

1,549,500 

51  65 

1,374,381 

48  73 

1,482,730 

47  83 

820,690 

63  13 

535,500 

53  55 

1,471,750 

42  05 

1,526,700 

36  35 

1,705,544 

42  08 

2,179,745 

45  90 

2.432,700 

45  90 

2,473,202  . 

53  13 

2,157,300 

45  90 

2,190,715 

45  90 

1,551,925 

45  90 

1,725,818 

57  38 

1,999,387 

63  10 

2,084,773 

65  93 

2,220,482 

80  33 

2,919,376 

105  18 

4,228,538 

84  15 

3,303,256 

44  00 

2,961,471 

37  30 

2,101,652 

32  90 

2,194,674 

29  85 

1,857,706 

31  00 

1,815,185 

29  83 

1,488,624 

28  23 

1,343,344 

28  75 

973,347 

30  50 

986,245 

30  75 

1,064,326 

35  50 

1,430,749 

42  38 

Year 


Flasks 


Value 


Average 

price  per 

flask 


1850. 
1851. 

1852. 
1853. 
1854. 
1855. 
1856. 
1857- 
1858. 
1859. 
1860- 
1861. 
1862. 
1863. 
■  1864. 
1865. 
1866. 
1867- 
1868. 
1869. 
1870- 
1871- 
1872. 
1873. 
1874- 
1875. 
1876. 
1877- 
1878. 
1879. 
1880- 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886- 
1887. 


7.723 
27,779 
20,000 
22,284 
30,004 
33,000 
30,000 
28,204 
31,000 
13,000 
10,000 
35,000 
42,000 
40,531 
47,489 
53,000 
46,550 
47.000 
47,728 
33,811 
30,077 
31,686 
31,621 
27.642 
27.756 
50,250 
75,074 
79,396 
63,880 
73,684 
59,926 
60,851 
52,732 
46.725 
31.913 
32.073 
29,981 
33,760 


1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894_ 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899- 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903- 
1904- 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908- 
1909- 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913- 
1914. 
1915. 
1916- 
1917. 
1918. 
1919- 
1920- 
1921. 
1922- 
1923- 
1924. 


33.250 
26,464 
22.926 
22.904 
27.993 
30,164 
30.416 
36.104 
30.765 
26.691 
31,092 
29,454 
26,317 
26,720 
29,552 
32,094 
*28,876 
24,655 
19,516 
17.379 
18.039 
16.217 
17.665 
19,109 
20,600 
15,661 
11.373 
14.199 
21,427 
24.382 
22,621 
15,200 
10,278 
3,157 
3.466 
5.458 
7,948 


$1,413,125 

1,190,880 

1,203,615 

1,036,406 

1,139,595 

1,108,527 

934,000 

1,337,131 

1,075,449 

993,445 

1,188,626 

1,405,045 

1,182.786 

1.285.014 

1,276,524 

1,335,954 

1,086,323 

886,081 

712,334 

663,178 

763,520 

773,788 

799,002 

879,205 

866,024 

630,042 

557,846 

1,157,449 

2.003.425 

2.396,466 

2,579.472 

1.353,381 

775.527 

140.666 

191.851 

332,851 

543,080 


Totals 2,205,856  $107,909,288 


42  50 
45  00 
52  50 
45  25 
40  71 

36  75 
30  70 

37  04 

34  96 

37  28 

38  23 

47  70 

44  94 

48  46 

43  20 
42  25 

37  62 

35  94 

36  50 

38  16 
42  33 
47  71 

45  23 

46  01 
42  04 
40  23 

49  05 
81  52 
93  50 
98  29 

114  03 
89  04 
75  45 

44  56 
55  35 
60  98 
68  33 


♦Flasks  of  75  lbs.  since  June,  1904;  of  76J^  lbs.  pre\aously. 


SILVER. 

Bibliography:    State   Mineralogist    Reports   IV,    VIII.    XII-XXI 
(inc.).    Bulletins  67,  91.    Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  March  1,  1919. 

Except  for  the  early-day  production  of  the  silver  mines  of  the  Calico 
district  and  the  more  recent  production  from  those  of  the  Randsburg 
district  (both  being  in  San  Bernardino  County),  the  recovery  of  silver 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


57 


in  California  has  been  largely  as  a  by-product  from  its  association  with 
copper,  lead,  zinc,  and  gold  ores. 

The  1924  silver  output  of  California  totaled  3,555.153  fine  ounces, 
valued  at  $2,381,952,  compared  with  3,559,443  fine  ounces  and  $2,918,743 
in  1923.  The  average  price  of  domestic  silver  during  1924  was  67^' 
per  ounce  at  New  York,  as  against  ^'2f  in  ]924.  and  $1.00  in  1921-1923 
under  the  Pittman  Act.  The  figures  below  are  those  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Mines.  Department  of  Commerce  (as  explained  under  Gold),  to  which 
has  been  added  a  small  figure  from  Alpine  County  not  included  by 
that  bureau,  being  less  than  $100. 

The  following  paragraph  is  quoted  from  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Klines, 
Department  of  Commerce,  Advance  Chapter  on  Gold  and  Silver  for 
1924,  ])y  courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Hill,  statistician  in  charge  of  the  San 
Francisco  branch  office : 

"The  production  of  silver  in  1924  was  3,555,133  ounces,  only  4,310  ounces  less  than 
in  1923,  but  the  value  decreased  18  per  cent.  Ninety-nine  per  cent  of  the  total  silver 
output  of  California  in  19J4  was  produced  by  the  49  mines  that  contributed  over  1,000 
ounces  each.  At  25  properties  between  1.000  and  5,000  ounces  was  produced,  at  8 
between  5,000  and  10,000  ounces,  at  11  between  10,000  and  50,000  ounces,  at  4  between 
100,000  and  300,000  ounces,  and  at  1  (California  Rand  Silver,  Inc.)  more  than  2,000,000 
ounces.  The  mines  with  an  output  of  over  100,000  ounces  were  copper  mines  in 
Plumas  and  Shasta  counties.  No  lead  mines  produced  over  50,000  ounces  of  silver  in 
1924.  San  Bernardino  County  held  first  rank  in  silver  production,  followed  by  Shasta 
and  Plumas  counties.  The  10  largest  silver  producers  in  the  State,  named  in  order 
of  rank,  were  the  California  Rand  Silver  (Inc.)  (silver  ore),  U.  S.  Smelting,  Refining 
&  Mining  Co.  (Mammoth  mines)  (copper  ore).  Walker  Mining  Co.  (copper  ore), 
Engels  Copper  Co.  (cooper  ore).  Tecopa  Cons.  Mining  Co.  (lead  ore),  Darwin  Silver 
Co.  (lead  ore),  Zenda  Mining  Co.  (gold  ore),  Cerro  Gordo  Mines  Co.  (lead  ore), 
Estelle  Mines  Co.    (lead  ore).  Empire  Mines  Co.    (gold  quartz). 

"That  the  silver  output  did  not  decline  more  than  it  did  is  due  to  the  great  expansion 
of  copper  mining,  for  the  lead  mines  were  much  less  productive  in  silver  and  the 
output  of  the  California  Rand  declined  considerably.  The  silver  production  of  Shasta 
County  increased  nearly  nine-fold,  due  to  the  greater  extent  of  copper  mining,  and 
there  "were  notable  increases  in  yield  of  silver  from  Plumas,  Mono,  Kern,  Trinity,  and 
Amador  counties. 

"In  1924  the  yield  of  silver  from  placer  mines  was  16,690  ounces,  0.47  per  cent  of 
the  State  total  and  a  decrease  of  18  per  cent  as  compared  with  1923.  The  dredges 
produced  89  per  cent,  surface  placers  6  per  cent,  drift  mines  3  per  cent,  and  hydraulic 
mines  2  per  cent  of  the  silver  yield  of  placer  mines. 

"The  production  of  silver  from  deep  mines  was  3,538,443  ounces,  a  decrease  of 
only  695  ounces,  but  of  IS  per  cent  in  value,  as  compared  with  1923,  the  decrease  in 
value  of  course  being  attributable  to  the  lower  price  of  silver.  In  1924  silver  ores, 
practically  all  from  San  Bernardino  County,  yielded  65  per  cent,  copper  ores  25 
per  cent,  lead  ores  only  5  per  cent,  and  gold  ores  4  per  cent  of  the  total  silver 
produced  in  the  State.  Smelters  recovered  96  per  cent  of  the  silver  yield,  three- 
fourths  of  which  was  from  smelting  silver  and  copper  concentrates.  The  recovery 
of  silver  at  gold  and  silver  mills  was  over  3  per  cent  of  the  total,  a  little  over  half 
of  the  recovery  being  by  amalgamation." 

The  distribution  of  the  1924  silver  yiehl.  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


Silver  Production  by  Counties,  1924. 


County 

Amador 

Butte 

Calaveras  

El  Dorado  _. 

i  FYesno 

i  Humboldt   _. 

Imperial 

Inyo 

Kern 

Lassen  

Los  Angeles 

Madera 

Mariposa 

Merced 

Mono 


Fine 

ounces 

27,240 

3,161 

11,139 

228 

283 

10 

2 

172,834 

53,585 

65 

8,232 

262 

2,400 

2 

9,660 


Value 
$18,251 
2,118 
7,463 
153 
190 
7 
1 
115,799 
35,902, 
44  I 
5,515  I 
176 
1,6»8| 

6,472  I 


Cdunty 

Nevada    

Placer    

Plumas 

Riverside 

Sacramento 

San  Bernardino- 

San  Diego 

Shasta 

Sierra    

Siskiyou    

Stanislaus 

Trinity 

Tuolumne    

Yuba    

Alpine,    Orange* 


Fine 

ounces 

58,585 

797 

369,506 

867 

2,617 

,285,967 

145 

512,541 

7,758 

442 

1.154 

16,320 

1,651 

6,658 

1,042 


Totals   3,555.153 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


Value 

$39,252 

534 

247,569 

581 

1,753 

1,531.598 

97 

343,402 

5,198 

296 

773 

10.934 

1,106 

4,461 

698 

$2,381,952 


58 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Silver  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  value  of  the  silver  produced  in  California  each  j-ear  since  1880 
lias  been  as  follows,  the  data  previous  to  1887  being  taken  from  the 
reports  of  the  Director  of  the  Mint.  There  are  no  data  available  for 
the  years  previous  to  1880: 


Year 


Value 


Year 


Value 


18S0. 
1881- 
1882. 
1883- 
1884- 
1885. 
1886- 
1887- 
1888- 
1889- 
1890- 
1891- 
1892- 
1893. 
1894- 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900- 
1901. 
1902. 


$1,140,556  1 

1903. 

750,000 

1904. 

845,000  1 

1905. 

1,460,000  j 

1906. 

(a)  4.185,101  i 

1907 

2,568,036 

1908 

1,610,626  I 

1909 

1,632,004 

1910 

1,700,000 

1911 

1,065,281 

1912 

1,060,613 

1913 

953,157 

1914 

463,602 

1915 

537,158  ' 

1916 

297,332 

1917 

599,790 

1918 

422,464 

1919 

452,789 

1920 

414,055  1 

1921 

504,012  ' 

1922 

(b)  724,500  ' 

1923 

(b)  571,849  ' 

1924 

616,412  , 

S517, 

873, 

678, 

817, 

751, 

873, 

1,091, 

993 

673 

799 

832 

813 

851 

1,687 

1,462 

1,427 

1,240 

1,859 

3,629 

3,100, 

2,918 

2,381 


444 
525 
494 
830 
646 
,057 
,092 
,646 
,336 
.584 
,553 
938 
,129 
,345 
955 
861 
,051 
,896 
223 
,065 
,743 
,952 


Total  value !     $54,849,702 


« Law\er,  A.  M.,  in  Production  of  Precious  Metals  in  United  States :  Report  of 
Director  of  Mint,   1884,  p.   175  :   1885. 

''Recalculated  to  'commercial'  from   'coining  value,'  as  originally  published. 

TIN. 
Bihliography:  Reports  XV,  XVII.  XVIII.    Bulletins  67,  91. 

Tin  is  not  at  present  produced  in  California ;  but  during  1891-1892, 
there  was  some  output  from  a  small  deposit  near  Corona,  in  Eiverside 
County,  as  tabulated  below.  Small  quantities  of  .stream  tin  have  been 
found  in  some  of  the  placer  workings  in  northern  California,  but  never 
in  paying  amounts. 

Two  occurrences  have  also  been  noted,  in  northern  San  Diego  County. 
Crystals  of  cassiterite  were  found  there,  associated  with  blue  tourmaline 
crystals,  amblygonite  and  beryl.  No  commercial  quantity  has  been 
developed,  only  small  pockets  have  been  taken  out. 

The  principal  sources  of  the  world's  supply  of  tin  are  the  islands 
of  Banka.  Billiton  and  Singkep.  Netherlands  India  (Dutch  East 
Indies'),  followed  by  the  Federated  ^lalay  States  (Perak,  Pahang, 
Negri  Sembilan  and'  Selangor).  Bolivia,  Siam,  Cornwall,  Transvaal, 
New  South  "Wales.  Queen.slaud  and  Tasmania  are  also  important^ 
sources.  A  measurable  amount  of  the  metal  is  also  recovered  b^ 
de-tinning  .^crap  and  old  cans.  i 

Total    Output    of    Tin    in    California.  ^M 

Year  Pounds  Value^ 

1891 125,289  $27,564 

1892  __I_-_11 126,000  32.400 

Totals 251,289  $59,964 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXUAL    PRODUCTION.  59 

TUNGSTEN. 

Bibliography:  Reports  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.  Bulletins  38,  67,  91,  95. 
U.  S.  G.  S.  Bull.  652.  Proc.  Colo.  Sci.  Soc.  Vol.  XI.  South 
Dakota  School  of  Mines,  Bulletin  No.  12.  Eng.  and  ^Min.  Jour.- 
Press,  Vol.  113,  pp.  666-669,  Apr.  22,  1922. 

The  commercial  production  of  tungsten  ores  and  concentrates  in 
California  began  in  1905;  and  has  been  continuous  since,  with  the 
exception  of  1920-1922  (inclusive),  when  the  mines  were  shut  down 
owing  to  low  prices  due  to  excess  stocks  following  the  war  and  to  lack 
of  tariff  protection  against  foreign  importations.  Production  was 
resumed  on  a  small  scale  late  in  1923.  For  1924,  a  total  of  705  tons  of 
all  grades,  or  781  tons  recalculated  to  60%  WO3  was  shipped,  valued  at 
$446,009,  being  an  increase  over  the  34  tons  and  $19,126  of  1923.  The 
material  shipped  in  1924  included  both  high-grade  sorted  ore  and 
concentrates,  coming  from  properties  in  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino 
counties.  The  increased  yield  for  1924  was  due  mainly  to  the  operations 
of  leasers  on  the  ground  of  the  Atolia  ^Mining  Company. 

Prices  in  1924  varied  around  $9.00  to  $10.00  per  unit  of  WO3  for 
high-grade  schoelite.  The  present  quotations  (September,  1925)  are 
ranging  from  $11.50  to  $12.50  (each  1%  of  WO3). 

Tungsten  ore  has  been  produced  in  California  principally  in  the 
Atolia-Randsburg  district  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  counties,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Bishop  district  in  Inyo  County,  with  small  amounts 
coming  from  Nevada  County  and  from  the  district  near  Goffs,  in 
eastern  San  Bernardino.  ]\Iost  of  the  California  tungsten  ore  is 
scheelite  (calcium  tungstate),  though  wolframite  (iron-manganese 
tungstate)  and  hiibernite  (manganese  tungstate)  also  occur.  The 
deposits  at  Atolia  are  the  largest  and  most  productive  scheelite  deposits 
known,^  and  the  output  has  in  some  years  equaled  or  exceeded  that  of 
ferberite  (iron  tungstate)  from  Boulder  Canyon,  Colorado.  It  is  inter- 
esting in  this  connection  to  note  that,  in  practically  all  other  tungsten 
producing  districts  of  the  world,  wolframite  is  the  important  con- 
stituent. 

Imports  of  foreign  tungsten  ore  and  alloys  into  the  United  States 
during  1924  amounted  to  79,595  pounds,  valued  at  $24,981,  compared 
with  615,261  pounds  valued  at  $215,580  in  1923,  and  10,362  long  tons 
of  ore  valued  at  $11,409,237  in  1918,  which  ores  were  duty  free  up  to 
September  22,  1922.  Owing  to  lack  of  protection  against  the  cheap 
coolie  labor  of  Asiatic  tungsten  mines,  and  the  low  market  prices,  prac- 
tically all  of  the  tungsten  mines  in  the  United  States  were  closed  down 
from  the  middle  of  1919  to  the  latter  part  of  1923.  Quotations  during 
1922  ranged  around  $2.50  per  unit,  up  to  September.  The  Tariff  Act 
of  1922  placed  a  duty  on  tungsten  ore  or  concentrates  of  45e  per  pound 
on  the  metallic  tungsten  contained  therein.  Duties  are  also  provided 
for  imported  tungsten-bearing  alloys. 

Uses. 

The  mt-tal,  tungsten,  is  used  mainly  in  tlie  steel  industry  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  including  the  well-known  tung- 
sten filament  lamps.    Because  of  its  resistance  to  corrosion  by  acids,  it 

'  U.  S.  G.  S..  Bull.  652,  p.  32. 


60  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

is  valuable  in  making  certain  forms  of  chemical  apparatus.  Its  employ- 
ment in  tool-steel  alloys,  permits  the  operation  of  cutting  tools,  such 
as  in  lathe  work,  at  a  speed  and  temperature  at  which  carbon  steel 
would  lose  its  temper — hence  the  name  'high  speed'  steels  for  these 
tung.sten  alloys.  As  made  in  the  United  States,  tungsten  forms  13% 
to  20%  of  such  steels.  Some  chromium,  nickel,  cobalt,  or  vanadium 
are  sometimes  also  included.  Tungsten  compounds  are  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  color.s. 

Tungsten  is  introduced  into  the  molten  steel  charge,  either  as  the 
powdered  metal  or  as  ferro-tungsten  (containing  50%-85%  tungsten). 
The  specific  gravity  of  the  pure  metal,  19.3-21.4,  is  exceeded  only  by 
platinum.  21.5:  iridium.  22.4:  and  osmium,  22.5.  Its  melting  point  is 
3267°  C.  (5913°  F.),  being  higher  than  any  other  known  metal. 
Though  millions  of  tungsten  filament  lamps  are  now  made,  the  wires 
are  so  fine  that  the  metal  they  contain  represents  but  a  few  tons  of 
tungsten  concentrates  annually. 

Total  Tungsten   Ore  Production   of  California. 

The  annual  amount  and  value  of  tungsten  ores  and  concentrates 
produced  in  California  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  is  given  here- 
with, with  tonnages  recalculated  to  60%  WO3 : 

Tons  at  ||  Tona  at 

Tear  60%  WOs  Value        ij  Year  60%  WOs  Value 


1905 57  $18,800    1915 962  .«1,005.467 

1906 485  189,100,1916 2,270  4,571,521 

1907... 287  120,587  1 1917 -  2,466  3.079,013 

1908 105                37,750    1918 1,982  2.832,222 

1909.. 577  190,500    1919 214  219,316 

1910 457  208,245    1920 ...j. j 

1911 387  127,706   1923 I  34  19.126 

1912 572  206,000  ,1924__ ■  781  I         446.009 

m4 :::::::::::::::       So      m>M\    totals 12.615  i  $13,686.610 

VANADIUM. 

Bibliography:  Report  XV.    Bulletins  67.  91.    Proc.  Colo.  Sci.  Soc, 
Vol.  XI.    r.  S.  Bur.  of  :\Iines.  Bulletin  104. 

No  commercial  production  of  vanadium  has  yet  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. Occurrences  of  this  metal  have  been  found  at  Camp  Signal, 
near  Goffs.  in  San  Bernardino  County,  and  two  companies  at  one  time 
did  considerable  development  work  in  the  endeavor  to  open  up  paying 
quantities.  Each  had  a  mill  under  construction  in  1916,  but  apparently 
no  commercial  output  was  made.  Ore  carrying  the  mineral  cuprodes- 
cloizite  and  reported  as  assaying  4%  YoO.,  was  opened  up.  Some  ore 
carrvine  lead  vanadate  has  been  developed  in  the  29  Palms,  or  Washing- 
ton district,  on  the  line  betvxeen  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  counties, 
but  no  shipments  reported. 

The  principal  use  of  vanadium  is  as  an  alloy  in  steels,  especially  in 
tool  steel,  and  in  those  varieties  where  resistance  to  repeated  strains  is 
required.  Present  New  York  quotations  for  vanadium  ore  are  @  $1.00- 
$125  per  pound  of  contained  V.,0,    (guaranteed  minimum   of  18% 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


61 


ZINC. 

Hibliographif:  >^\iiti'  Mhun-:\Un/is\  H. -ports  XIV.  X\'.  XVII.  X\'I[I 
Bulletins  .^S,  ^7,  PI. 

Recoverable  zinc  in  ores  mined  in  California  in  192-4  amounted  to 
8.060,000  pounds,  valued  at  >|<198,900,  and  was  marketed  entirely  in  the 
form  of  the  oxide.  The  average  price  per  jiound  quoted  for  the  metal 
in  1924  was  6.5('.  There  was  no  recoverable  zinc  mined  in  California 
in  1923. 

The  zinc  ores  of  Shasta  and  Calaveras  counties  are  associated  with 
copper,  while  those  of  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  are  associated  prin- 
cipally with  lead-silver  and  zinc-silver  ores. 

The  principal  uses  of  zine  are  for  'galvanizing'  (plating  on  iron  to 
prevent  rust),  for  zinc  oxide  (u.sed  in  rubber  goods  and  paint),  and  for 
brass  (an  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc).  These  outlets  for  the  metal  take 
approximately  80%  of  the  quantity  produced.  Of  the  remaining  20% 
a  large  portion  is  rolled  into  plates  and  sheets,  and  utilized  in  the 
building  industrj^  for  sheathing,  roofing,  leaders,  and  eaves-troughs. 
Zinc  is  particularly  desirable  and  efficient  for  roofing  and  siding  where 
corrosive  gases  are  present,  as  at  smelters,  refineries  and  chemical 
plants. 

Total  Zinc   Production   of  California. 

Total  figures  for  zinc  output  of  the  state  are  as  follows,  commercial 
production  dating  back  only  to  1906 : 


Tear                    Pounds          Value 

Tear 

Pounds          Value 

1906   206,000           $12,566 

1907  .          177,759             10,598 

1916    

1917   

1918   

1919    

1920   

1921    

1922    

1923    

19-J-l 

Totals 

15,950,56.5       .?2,137,375 
11,854,80^1        1.209,190 

1908   54.000              3.544 

1909 

1910   

5,565.561           506,466 
1,384,192            101,046 
1,188,009            96,229 

1911    2,679,842           152,751 

1912 4,331,391           298.866 

1913 1.157,947             64,845 

1914   399,641             20,381 

846,184            42,309 
3,0S4,430           172.963 

8,000,000             198,900 

1915    13.043.411        1,617,383 

64,93.^,736        $6, (14."). 412 

62  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER  FOUK. 

STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Eeports  XII-XXI  (inc.)  Bul- 
letin 38.  Spurr  and  Wormser,  "jMarketing  of  Metals  and 
Minerals."  "Non-Metallic  Minerals,"  by  R.  B.  Ladoo.  See  also 
under  each  substance. 

As  indicated  by  this  subdivision  heading,  the  mineral  substances 
herein  considered  are  those  more  or  less  direeetly  used  in  building  and 
structural  work.  California  is  independent,  so  far  as  these  are  con- 
cerned, and  almost  any  reasonable  construction  can  be  made  with 
materials  produced  in  the  state.  This  branch  of  the  mineral  industry 
for  1924  was  valued  at  $51,310,197  as  compared  with  a  total  value  of 
$53,782,362  for  the  year  1923,  the  decrease  being  due  mainly  to  a 
lower  price  for  cement. 

Deposits  of  granite,  marble  and  other  building  stones  are  distributed 
widely  throughout  this  state,  and  transportation  and  other  facilities 
are  gradually  being  extended  so  that  the  growing  demand  may  be  met. 
The  largest  single  item,  cement,  has  had  an  interesting  record  of 
growth  since  the  inception  of  the  industry  in  California  about  1891. 
Not  until  1904  did  the  annual  value  of  cement  produced  reach  the 
million-dollar  mark,  following  which  it  increased  5007c  in  nine  years; 
though  from  1914  to  1918'  there  was  a  falling  off  common  to  all  build- 
ing materials.  The  1924  output  establishes  a  new  high-level  mark,  in 
quantity,  but  the  value  dropped  below  that  of  1923. 

Crushed  rock  production  is  yearly  becoming  more  worthy  of  con- 
sideration, due  to  the  strides  recently  taken  in  the  use  of  concrete,  as 
well  as  to  activity  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Brick,  with  an  aver- 
age annual  output  for  a  number  of  years  worth  approximately 
$2,000,000,  had  difficulty  in  holding  its  own,  due  to  the  popularity  of 
cement  and  concrete.  In  1920,  however,  the  sales  increased  to  nearly 
double  the  previous  record  figure  of  the  year  1907,  and  in  1923  showed 
advances  to  new  figures,  with  a  slight  recession  in  1924.  This  item 
will,  no  doubt,  continue  to  be  an  important  one,  and  a  market  for  fire 
and  fancy  brick  of  all  kinds  will  unquestionably  never  be  lacking. 

Fifty-six  counties  contributed  to  this  structural  total  for  1924,  aod 
there  is  not  a  county  in  the  state  which  is  not  capable  of  some  output 
of  at  least  one  of  the  materials  under  this  classification. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


63 


The  following  summary  shows  the  value  of  the  structural  materials 
produced  in  California  during  the  years  1923-1924  with  increase  or 
decrease  in  each  instance : 


SubeUnce 

1923 

1924 

Increases- 
Decrease — 
Value 

AAount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

2,945  tons 

$11,780 

9,738,082 

25,999,203 

1,658 

760,081 

788,834 

946,643 

124,919 

2,510 

13.000 

15.395,652 

6,040  tons 

$14,922 

9,137,908 

23,225,850 

6,700 

1,211,046 

703,355 

900,183 

140,253 

$3,142+ 

Brick  and  hoUow  tile 

600,174— 

Cement 

10,825,405  bbls. 
84  tons 

11.655,131  bbls. 
350  tons 

2  773,353— 

5.042+ 

Granite 

450,965+ 

Lime 

70,894  tons 
73,963  tons 
28,015  cu.  ft. 
14,220  cu.  ft. 
7,000  cu.  ft. 

62,029  tons 

67,236  tons 

«61,579  cu.  ft. 

b 

6,700  cu.  ft. 

85,479— 

Magnesite ... 

46,460— 

Marble 

15,334+ 

Onyx  and  travertine. 

+ 

Sandstone  .  

3,600 
15.966.380 

9.400— 

570.728+ 

Total  value 

$53,782,362 

$51,310,197 

Net  decrease 

$2,472,165— 

"Includes  on}-!  and  travertine. 
K^ombined  with  marble. 


ASPHALT. 


Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  X.  XII-XY  fine), 
XVil,  XVIII.    Bulletins  16,  32,  63,  67,  69,  91. 

Asphalt  was  for  a  number  of  years  accounted  for  in  the  statistical 
reports  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  because  in  the  early  days  of  the  oil 
industry,  considerable  asphalt  was  produced  from  outcroppings  of  oil 
sand,  and  was  a  separate  industry  from  the  production  of  oil  itself. 
However,  at  the  present  time  most  of  the  asphalt  comes  from  the  oil 
refineries,  which  produce  a  better  and  more  uniform  grade;  hence,  its 
value  is  not  now  included  in  the  mineral  total,  as  to  do  so  would  be  in 
part  a  duplication  of  the  crude  petroleum  figures.  Such  natural  asphalt 
as  is  at  present  mined  is  in  the  form  of  bituminous  sandstones,  and  is 
recorded  under  that  designation. 


k.  BITUMINOUS   ROCK.. 

Biblio(;raphtj:  State  IMineraloirist  Reports  XIT.   XITI.  XV.   XVII. 

xviii. 

Small  amounts  of  bituminous  rock  are  still  occasionally  used  for  road 
dressing  in  those  districts  adjacent  to  available  deposits,  though  the 
manufacture  of  asphalt  at  the  oil  refineries  has  almost  eliminated  the 
direct  use  of  the  native  material.  During  1924,  a  total  of  6,040  tons 
valued  at  $14,922  was  shipped  from  quarries  in  Santa  Barbara  and 
Santa  Cruz  counties,  compared  with  2,945  tons  and  $11,780  in  1923. 

This  material  is  essentially  an  uucemented  sandstone  which  is  satu- 
rated with  and  held  together  by  a  natural  asphaltic  constituent 
probably  the  residue  from  the  evaporation  of  a  crude  petroleum  deposit. 

Bituminous    Rock   Production   of   California,  by  Years. 

The   following   tabulation    shows   the    total    amount    and    value    of 


64 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


l)itmninou.s  rock  quarried  and  sold   in   California,   from  the  records 
compiled  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  annually  since  1887 : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear      ' 

Tons 

Value 

1887  -   

36,000  i 

$160,000 

1907 

24  122 

$72,835 
109,818 

1888  

50,000 

257,000 

1908 

30,718 

1889  

40.000 

170,000 

1909  _— ^ 

34.123 

116,436 

1890  

40,000 

170.000 

1910  

87,547 

165,711 

1891  

39,962 

154.164 

1911  

75.125 

117,279 

1892  

24,000 

72,000 

1912  

44,073 

87,467 

1893  

32,000 

192,036 

1913  

37,541 

78,479 

1894  

31,214 

115,193 

1914  

66,119 

166,618 

1895  

38,921 

121,586 

1915  

17,789 

61,468 

1896  

49,456 

122,500 

1916  

19,449 

66,561 

1897  

45.470 

128,173 

1917  

5,590 

18,580 

1898  

46.836 

137,575 

1918  

2,561 

9,067 

1899  

40,321 

116,097 

1919  

4,614 

18,537 

1900  

25,306 

71,495 

1920  

5.450 

27,825 

1901  

24,052 

66,3.54 

1921  

8.298 

43,192 

1902  

33,490 

43.411 

1922  

4.624 

13,570 

1903  

21,944 

53.106 

1923  

2,945 

11,780 

1904  

45.280 

175.680 

1924 

0,040 

14,922 

1905  

24.753 

60.436 

1906  

16,077 

45,204 

Totals 

1,181.810 

$3,632,155 

BRICK   and    HOLLOW  TILE. 

Biblioqraphy:  State  :\Iineralooist  Reports  YIII.  X,  XII-XY 
(inc.),  XVII-XXI  (inc.).  Bulletin  38.  Preliminary  Report, 
'No.  7.    Cal.  Jour,  of  Development,  June,  1925,  pp.  5-6. 

Bricks  of  many  varieties  and  in  important  quantities  are  annually 
produced  in  California,  as  might  be  expected  in  a  state  with  such 
diversified  and  widespread  mineral  resources.  The  varieties  include 
common,  fire,  pressed,  glazed,  enamel,  fanc3%  vitrified,  sand-lime,  and 
others.  Not  only  do  the  plants  here  supply  practically  all  of  our  own 
requirements  in  these  products,  but  considerable  quantities  are  shipped 
to  contiguous  territory  and  certain  products  are  shipped  over  a  much 
wider  radius.  So  far  as  possible,  the  different  kinds  have  been  segre- 
gated in  the  tabulation  herewith  accompanying. 

We  also  include  under  this  heading  the  various  forms  of  hollow 
building  'tile'  or  blocks.  The  application  of  these  tile  to  residence 
construction  as  well  as  to  other  structures  is  growing;  though  their 
total  for  1924  shows  a  slight  drop  from  the  record  figure  of  1923. 

The  aggregate  value  of  all  kinds  of  brick  in  1924  shows  a  decrease 
of  approximately  6%  from  the  high-level  of  1923,  due  mainly  to  a 
drop  in  the  sales  of  common  brick  in  the  Los  Angeles  district.  The 
total  of  glazed,  pressed,  fancy,  vitrified,  paving,  and  sand-lime  brick 
showed  an  important  increase ;  while  fire-brick  held  its  own.  In  spite 
of  the  decrease  in  sales  of  common  in  Los  Angeles,  the  total  of  common 
for  1924  in  that  county  still  (as  in  1922-1923)  exceeded  the  entire 
state's  total  of  common  brick  for  the  year  1921  (202,417  ]M  and 
$2,880,124).  This  item,  of  itself,  is  an  indication  of  the  continued 
activity  in  construction  operations  during  the  past  year.  This,  too, 
even  in  the  face  of  the  increasing  use  of  reinforced  concrete  in  struct- 
ural building,  throughout  the  state. 

The  detailed  figures  of  brick  and  tile  production  for  1924,  by  coun- 
ties, are  given  in  the  following  tabulation.  'Production'  in  this  case 
means  sales  of  product  of  California  manufacture;  and  'value'  is  net 
price  at  the  works,  f.  o.  b.  ears,  trucks  or  boats. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


65 


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66 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORXIA. 


Brick  and    Hollow  Tile   Production  of  California,   by  Years. 

Record  of  briek  production  in  the  state  has  been  kept  since  1893  l)y 
this  Bureau,  the  figures  for  hollow  building  'tile'  or  blocks  being  also 
included  since  1914.  The  annual  and  total  figures,  for  amount  and 
value,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


HoUow 
Brick.  M  building 

blocks,  tons 


1893 103.900 

1894 81.675 

1895 131,772 

1896 24,000 

1897  97.428 

1898 100.102 

1899 125.950 

1900 137,191 

1901 1-30.766 

1902 169,8.51 

1903 214.403 

1904  281.750 

1905 286,618 

1906 277,762 

1907  362,167 

1908  3.32.872 

190P 3.3.3.846 

1910 340.883 

1911   . 327,474 

1912 -  337,233 

1913  3.58,754 

1914  270,791 

1915 180.538 

1916  206.96C 

1917 192,269 

1918 13^^,374 

1919 1.56,-328 

1920    245.842 

1921    238.022 

1922    374.8.53 

1923     397,754 

1924    456,716 

Totals 7,412,884 


$801,750 

457,125 

672,360 

524,740 

56.3,240 

571,362 

754,730 

905,210 

860,488 

1,-306,215 

1.999.546 

1.994.740 

2,273.786 

2,538,848 

3.438,951 

2.506,495 

3,0.59,9-29 

2.934,7.31 

2,638,121 

2,940.290 

2.91.5.-3.50 

2,288.227 

1,678.7.56 

2.096,.570 

29,348  2,532,721 

-34,818  2.363481 

36.026  3.087.067 

99,208  5,704,393 

67,100  5,570,875 

105.9f9  7,994,991 

122.534  9,738,082 

114,469  9,137,908 

609,412  $88,851,078 


CEMENT. 

Bihiiogrnphii:  State  :\fineral()irist  Reports  VIII.   IX.   XII.   XIV. 
XV.  XVII.  XVIII.  XXI.  Bulletin  38. 

Cement  is  the  most  important  single  .structural  material  in  the 
mineral  output  of  this  state.  During  1924.  there  was  produced  a  total 
of  11,655.131  barrels,  valued  at  $23>25.850  f .  o.  b.  plant.  This  is  an 
increase  of  829.726  barrels  over  the  previous  record  figure  of  10,825.405 
barrels  in  1923;  but  a  decrease  of  .^2.773.353  from  the  1923  value  of 
.'|;25. 999.203.  Tlie  lower  .sales  prices  prevailing  in  1924  were  due  to  the 
competition  of  foreign  cements  ])rought  over  in  ballast  and  dumped 
onto  our  local  markets  duty-free.  There  is  no  import  duty  on  this 
foreign  cement,  the  Imlk  of  which  came  from  Belgium. 

As  in  the  preceding  three  years,  the  cmtput  came  from  nine  operating 
plants  in  .seven  counties,  and  in  1924  employing  a  total  of  3081  men. 
The  three  plants  in  San  Bernardino  County  made  a  total  of  4,354,119 
barrels  valued  at  $7,571,370.  the  balance  of  the  state's  product  coming 


STATISTICS   OF    AXNTAL    IMtODrcTIOX. 


07 


cullec'tively  from  a  single  plant  in  each  of  the  following  counties: 
Contra  Costa.  Kern.  Riverside.  San  Benito,  Santa  Cruz,  and  Solano. 
For  1925,  the  new  plant  of  tiie  Paeifie  l*ortland  Cement  Company  at 
Kedwood  City,  San  ^lateo  County,  is  operating  and  utilizing  marine 
shells  as  a  source  of  calcium  carbonate.  The  Yosemite  Portland 
Cement  Company  is  liuilding  a  i)lant  at  Merced,  and  will  use  limestone 
from  a  deposit  on  the  Merced  Kiver  in  Mariposa  County. 

According  to  reports  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  California 
ranks  third  as  a  cement  producer,  being  surpassed  only  by  Pennsylvania 
and  Indiana;  but  our  net  increase  in  the  period  1910-1923  (inc.)  has 
been  exceeded  only  by  Pennsylvania.    In  per  capita  consumption,  how- 


;att^  liighway  bridge  over  the  Sacranunto  River    ii  Dunsmuir.  Siskiyou  County, 
sliuwing  use  of  California  cement  and  cruslied  rock   in  a  reinforced 
concrete    structure. 

ever,  California  leads  all  others  \nth  an  average  in  1923  of  2.69  barrels 
as  against  the  average  of  1.21  barrels  for  the  entire  United  States. 

Cement  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

'Portland"  cement  was  first  connnerciidly  produced  in  Califoi'nia  in 
1891  ;  though  in  1S*)()  and  foi-  several  >-ears  following,  a  natural 
hydraulic  cement  fi'om  Penii-ia  was  utilized  in  Ituilding  operations  in 
San  Francisco. 

•"The  Benicia  Cement  Company  in  1859-60  was  turning  out  50  to  100  barrels  of 
cement  a  day  and  San  Fiancisco  was  using  about  12.000  barrels  a  year.  The  mill 
price  of  the  product  was  then  $4  a  barrel.  By  1865,  the  San  Francisco  rate  of 
consumption   liad   Increased  to   100,000   barrels  yearly,   brick  buildings   largely  taking 


'Monthly  Review,  of  Mercantile  Trust  Co.  of  Cal.,  Vol.  XIIT,  Xo.  .1.  p.  55,  Mar.  1!>24. 


68 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


the  place  of  frame  structures,  and  the  price  of  cement  had  fallen  to  $2.50  a  barrel, 
about  the  same  as  it  is  today." 

The  growth  of  the  industry  became  rapid  after  1902;  since  Avhich 
time  cement  has  continued  to  be  an  important  factor  in  the  industrial 
life  of  the  state.  Although  the  total  cement  figures,  to  date,  are  not 
of  the  same  magnitude  as  those  for  gold  and  petroleum,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  value  of  California's  cement  yield  beginning  with 
1920  has  since  annually  exceeded  the  value  of  her  gold  output. 

Annual  production  of  cement  in  California  has  been  as  follows : 


Tear 


Barrels 


Value 


1891 5,000  $15,000 

1892 5,600  15,000 

1893 

1894 8.000  21,600 

1895 16.383  32,556 

1896 9,500  28,250 

1897 - 18.000  66,000 

1898 50,000  150,000 

1899 60,000  180,000 

1900 52.000  121.000 

1901 71,800  159.842 

1902 171,000  423,600 

1903 640,868  968,727 

1904    969,538  1,539,807 

1905 1,265,553  1,791.916 

1906 l,2S6,fX)0  1,941,250 

1907  -    1,613,563  2,5&5,577 

1908    1.629,615  2,359,692 


Tear 


Barrels 


Value 


1909 

3,779.205 

$4,969,437 

1910 

5,453,193 

7.485,715 

1911  

6,371,369 

9.085.625 

1912 

6,198,634 

6,074,661 

1913 

6.167.806 

7,743,024 

1914 

5,109,218 

6.558,148 

1915 

4,918.275 

6,044.950 

1916 

5,299.507 

6,210,293 

1917 

5,790.734 

7,544,282 

1918 

4,772,921 

7,969,909 

1919 

4,645,289 

8,591,990 

1920 

6,709.160 

14,962,945 

1921 

7,404,221 

18,072,120 

1922 

8,962,135 

16,524.056 

1923 

10,825,405 

25.999,203 

1924 

11,655,131 

23,225,850 

Totals 

111,934,023 

$189,462,015 

CHROMITE. 

Bihliographij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV,  XVII.  XVIII.  XXI.  Bulletins  38,  76.  91.  Preliminary 
Eeport  3.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull  430.  Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  114, 
p.  552. 

Chromic  iron  ore,  or  chromite,  to  the  amount  of  350  short  tons, 
recalculated  to  a  basis  of  45^^  Cr.O,.  valued  at  $6,700  f.o.b.  rail-ship- 
ping point  was  sold  in  California  during  the  year  1924.  This  was 
principally  of  ore  that  had  been  mined  during  the  World  War  period, 
but  not  then  sold.  It  is  hoped  that  the  development  of  the  steel 
industry  and  the  resumption  of  copper  smelting  on  the  Palifie  Coast 
may  create  some  demand  for  California's  chromite,  but  the  outlook 
for  the  immediate  future  is  not  encouraging. 


Occurrence. 


Until  1916,  when  some  shipments  were  made  from  Oregon  and 
smaller  amounts  from  Maryland,  Wyoming  and  Washington,  practi- 
cally our  only  domestic  production  of  chromite  for  many  years  came 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  69 

from  California.  From  1820  to  1860  the  deposits  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  supplied  the  world's  consumption. 

Chromite  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  the  principal  produc- 
tion, thus  far,  having  come  from  El  Dorado,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Del 
Xorte,  Shasta,  Siskiyou,  Placer,  Fresno,  and  Tuolumne  counties.  In 
II '18  a  total  of  29  counties  contributed  to  the  state's  output.  There 
are  two  main  belts  in  California  yielding  this  mineral,  one  along 
the  Coa.st  Kanges  from  San  Luis  Obispo  County  to  the  Oregon  line, 
including  the  Klamath  ^Mountains  at  the  north  end,  and  the  other  in 
the  Sierra  Nevada  from  Tulare  County  to  Plumas  County.  Chromite 
occurs  as  lenses  in  basic  igneous  rocks  such  as  peridotite  and  pyroxe- 
nite,  and  in  serpentines  which  have  been  derived  by  alteration  of  such 
l)a.sic  rocks.  For  the  most  part,  so  far  as  developnuents  have  yet 
sliown,  the  lenses  have  proved  to  be  small,  relatively  few  of  them 
yielding  over  100  tons  apiece.  A  notable  exception  to  this  was  the 
deposit  on  Little  Castle  Creek,  near  Dunsmuir,  from  which  upwards 
of  15,000  tons  was  shipped  before  it  was  exhausted.  Deposits  worked 
in  Del  Norte  County  during  1918  promised  well  for  a  large  tonnage. 
(h\  the  whole  the  orebodies  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  state 
appear  to  average  larger  in  size  than  the  chromite  lenses  in  other  parts 
of  California. 

Concentration  became  an  accomplished  fact  in  several  localities,  thus 
utilizing  some  of  the  disseminated  and  lower-grade  orebodies  which 
have  been  found.  In  fact,  an  important  part  of  the  1918-1920  pro- 
duction came  from  that  source. 

Imports. 

Importations  of  foreign  chromite,  duty  free,  mainly  from  Rhodesia, 
Xt'w  Caledonia,  and  India,  totaled  118,343  long  tons  in  1924,  valued  at 
>  1.095,603,  compared  with  128,763  tons  and  $f,123,120  in  1923. 


Uses. 

The  major  consumption  of  chromite  ore  is  for  use  as  a  refractory 
lining  in  smelting  furnaces  for  steel  and  copper.  A  smaller  portion 
is  used  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-chrome  for  chrome-steel  alloys,  and 
of  chromium  chemicals. 

Total  Chromite  Production  of  California. 

Production  of  chromite  in  California  began,  apparently,  about  1874, 
principally  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County.  There  was  considerable 
activity  from  1880  to  1883,  inclu-sive.  and  a  total  of  23.238  long  tons 
(or  26,028  short  tons),  valued  at  $329,924  was  shipped  from  that 
county  up  to  the  beginning  of  1887.  Some  ore  also  was  sliipped  fi'om 
the  Tyson  properties  in  Del  Norte  County.  The  tabulation  lierewith 
.shows  the  output  of  chromite  in  California,  annually,  including  the 


70 


^riNERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


earliest  fij^ures  so  far  as  they  are  availaljle.     The  figures  from  1887  to 
date  are  from  the  reeord.s  of  the  State  JMiniiijr  Bureau : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1874-1886    (San    Luis 
Obispo  Co.)  __- 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
190-2 
1903 
1904 
1905 


.'6.028 
3,000 
1,500 
2,000 
3,599 
1,372 
1,500 
3,319 
3,680 
1,740 
786 


$329,924 
40,000 
20,000 
30,000 
53,985 
20,580 
22,500 
49,785 
39,980 
16.795 
7.775 


Year 

Tons 

1906 

317 

1907 

302 

1908 

350 

1909 

436 

1910 

749 

1911  -. 

935 

1912     .     - 

1,''70 

1913     

1,180 

1914 

1,517 

1915 

3,725 

1916      -        

48,943 

1917 

52,379 

1918 

73,955 

1919 

*4,314 

1920 

1,770 

1921    .             .      

347 

1922      

379 

1923 

84 

l!t:;i    — -- -- 

Totals 

350 

242.724 

Value 

$2.8.V' 

6.040 

6.195 

5.309 

9.707 

14.197 

11,260 

12,700 

9,434 

38,044 

717,244 

1,130,298 

3,619,497 

97,161 

43,031 

6.870 

6.334 

1.6.-8 


$(i.419.1f 


^Recalculated  to  45%  CraOs,  beginning  with  1W9. 


GRANITE. 


BibU()(jraph\i:   State   ^linerahjffist    Reports.    X,    Xll-XXl    (iiie.  . 
Bulletin  38. 

The  value  of  the  granite  output  of  California  for  1924  was  the 
highest  recorded  for  any  year  since  1891,  due  mainly  to  the  contract 
for  the  con.strnction  of  the  new  Los  Angeles  County  Building.  Stone 
for  'monumental'  and  decorative  purposes  showed  an  increase  in 
quantity  but  a  decrease  in  total  value.  The  net  result  was  an  increase 
in  total  value  of  the  several  groups  from  $760,081  to  $1,211,046.  We 
have  included  under  this  heading  some  rhyolite  and  tuff  utilized  for 
dimension  building  stone,  as  we  have  no  other  dimension  stone  grouping, 
for  .statistical  purposes  in  this  report  except  marble  aud  sandstone. 

Crushed  rock,  rubble,  and  paving  blocks  derived  from  granite 
({uarries  are  given  under  the  heading  of  '^liscellaneous  Stone.' 

So  far  as  possible,  granite  production  has  been  segregated  in  the 
table  herewith  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  put.  It 
will  be  noted,  however,  that  a  portion  of  the  output  has  been  entered 
under  the  heading  'unclassified.'  This  is  necessary  because  of  the  fact 
that  some  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what  .specific  use 
their  stone  was  put  after  they  had  cpiarried  and  sold  the  same  in  the 
rough. 


Varieties. 


For  ])uilding  purposes,  the  granites  found  in  California,  particularly 
the  varieties  from  Raymond  in  ^Madera  County,  Rockliu  in  Placer 
County,  and  near  Porterville  in  Tulare  County,  are  unexcelled  by  any 
similar  stone   found   elsewhere.     The   quantities   available,   notably   at 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PROOrrTION.  71 

liaymond  iiiul  Portorville,  are  nnlimited.  Most  of  California's 
'granite,'  ])ai'tieularly  tliat  found  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  ^Mountains,  is 
teehnieally  'granodiorite'  (tliat  is,  both  plagioclase  and  orthoelase 
feldspars  are  present). 

Granites  of  excellent  quality  for  building  and  ornamental  purposes 
are  also  quarried  in  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties.  Near  Lakeside, 
San  Diego  County,  there  is  a  fine-grained,  'silver  gray'  granite  of 
uniform  te.xture  and  color,  especially  suited  for  monumental  and 
ornamental  work. 

The  Fresno  County  stone  is  a  dark,  hornblende  diorite,  locally  called 
'black  granite,'  whose  color  permits  of  a  fine  contrast  of  polished  and 
unpolished  surfaces,  making  it  particularly  suitable  for  monumental 
and  decorative  purposes.  There  is  also  a  similar  'black  granite'  in 
Tulare  County,  near  Success. 


72 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


t^  C  iC  O  :=  ,r  4.*  r^  — 


■^  CQ  »iD  QO  »0  »0 


(OCC  i-«  1-i 


O  :o  t^- ■<?' t>.  (N 


iC  C^  O  O  O  I 

CiGO  o  o  irr  ' 
r^  cs  Ci  ^-  Ci  c 


r*  oc  o  o  o  r- 


g|-- 


5§g 


4  %  %2>ii 


K-3  S  J  C  _  c  5  g 


3^ 


s-i-s 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


73 


Granite    Production    of   California,   by    Years. 

The  value  of  granite  produced,  annually,  since  1887,  has  been  as 
follows : 


Tear 


Value 


1887  $150,000 

1888  57,000 

1889 1,329,018 

1890 1,200,000 

1891  1,300,000 

1892  1,000,000 

1893  531,322 

1894  228,816 

1895 224,329 

1896 201.0(M 

1897  188,024 

1898  '  147,732 

1899  141,070 

1900 295,772 

1901  519,285 

1902  -  255,239 

1903  i  678,670 

19()4  467,472 

1905  353,837 

1906  344,083 


Year 


Value 


1907   $373,370 

1908  512,923 

1909  376.834 

1910  417,898 

1911  355,742 

1912     362,975 

1913  981,277 

1914                                       628,786 

1915  \\ 227,i^28 

1916                     535,339 

1917  221.997 

1918 139.861 

1919                220.743 

1900        .      495,732 

1921   725,901 

1099             676.643 

192:3  -.  760.081 

1924   _V j  1.211.046 

Total  value $18,837,755 


Summit  Lime  Plant  of  Union  Lime  Coniumy,  at  Tthachapi,  K'-in  Cjuuiv. 

LIME. 
BibUayrapliij:  Kepoits  XiV,  XV,  XVII,  XVIII.     iiulletin  3S. 

Lime  to  the  amount  of  62,029  tons,  valued  at  $703,355,  was  produced 
by  eleven  plants  in  eight  counties  during  1924,  as  compared  with 
70,894  tons  valued  at  $788,834  in  1923.  There  were  two  plauts  each, 
in  Kern.  Smu  Bernardino,  and  Santa  Cruz  counties,  and  one  each  in 
El  Dorado,  Iiiyu,  San  Diego,  Siskiyou,  and  Tuolumne. 


74 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


So  far  as  we  have  been  al)le  to  scj^ivirat*^  the  data,  these  fijrnres 
include  mainly  only  such  lime  as  is  used  in  building  operations:  thougli 
they  do  include  a  small  proportion  of  calcined  lime  employed  in  agri- 
culture and  the  chemical  industries,  the  figures  for  which  were  not 
separable.  A  portion  is  hydrated  lime.  Limestone  utilized  in  sugar 
making,  for  smelter  tlux.  as  a  fertilizt^r.  and  other  special  industrial 
uses,  are  da.ssified  under  'Industrial  ^laterials. '  That  cousumeil  in 
cement  manufacture  is  included  in  the  value  of  cement. 


Lime   Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  lime  pro- 
duced in  California  by  years  since  189-1:  when  compilation  of  such 
records  was  begun  by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 


37,350 


776 
275 
780 
,786 
.985 
,252 
,738 
866 
,659 
,945 
700 
927 
,422 
639 
075 


$318,700  ;  1910 

386,094  ■  1911 

261,505  i  1912 

252,900  I!  1913 

254,010  I!  1914 

314,575  i  1915 

283,699  ;  1916 

334,688  i|  1917. 

369,616  1  1918 

418,280  i  1919 

571,749   1920 

555,322   1921 

763,060  i;  1922 

756,376  !'  1923. 

379,243  ij  1924 

577.824 

P  Totals 


47,951 
42,959 
52,212 
61.344 
43,996 
35,653 
49.364 
50.073 
43.684 
42.070 
46,314 
46,353 
57.875 
70,894 
62.029 


$477,683 
390,988 
464,440 
528,547 
378.663 
286,304 
390,475 
311.380 
461.315 
552.043 
557,232 
610,619 
671,747 
788,834 
703,3:;.". 


1,4.54,946   .«14..371.26l. 


MAGNESITE. 

Biblioyraphy:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV  (inc.).  XVII 
XX.  Bulletins  38,  79.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv..  Bulletins  355,  540 :  j 
Min.  Res.  1913,  Pt.  II.  pp.  450-453.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  114. 
p.  23/.  "^lagne^ite" — Hearinirs  before  the  ("omm.  on  Ways 
and  Means,  Hou.se  of  Repr.,  on  H.  R.  5218.  June  16.  17  and 
Julv  17.  1919.  Eng.  Soc.  W.  Penn..  Proc.  1913.  Vol.  29.  pp.  305- 
388.  418-444.  Eng.  &  Miu.  .Tnm-Prcss.  Vol.  114.  Julv  29.  and 
Dec.  2,  1922. 

The  production  of  magnesite  in  California  during  1924  amounted  to 
a  total  of  67.236  tons  of  crude  ore  valued  at  $900,183.  Only  a  small 
part  of  it  was  sold  'crude,'  however,  as  it  is  practically  all  shipped  in 
the  calcined  form.  The  reports  at  hand  show  a  total  of  29.235  tons 
shipped  calcined,  of  which  2925  tons  were  dead-burned  and  sold  for 
refractory  purposes,  the  balance  going  to  the  plastic  trade.  From  2 
to  2i  tons  of  crude  material  are  mined  to  make  one  ton  of  calcined. 
The  1924  output  is  a  .slight  decrease  both  in  quantity  and  value  fro: 
the  1923  figures  of  73,963  tons  crude  valued  at  $946,643.  The  averag( 
of  the  values  reported  for  .1924  is  $13.40  per  ton  as  against  $12.80 
in  1923. 


STATISTICS    OF    AXNTAF;    I'RODT'CTTOK. 


75 


76 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


\ 


MagTiesite  specimen  showing  conchoidal  fracture.  From  No.  4  Tunnel, 
Tulare  Mine  of  Sierra  Magnesite  Company,  near  Succe.ss.  Tulare 
County.     Two-thirds  natural  size. 


Magrnesite  specimen  showing  conchoidal  fracture.     From  Stanislaus 
County.      Two-thirds    natural    size. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  77 

The  more  important  producing  properties  in  1924  were:  Maltby 
No.  1  (Western  Maguesite  Development  Co.,  operated  under  lease  by 
C.  S.  Maltby),  on  Red  Mountain,  Santa  Clara  County;  and  the  Sierra 
I\ragnesite  Company's  group  near  Porterville,  Tulare  County;  followed 
in  order  by  the  Sampson  Peak  JMiue  (Maltby  No.  3),  San  Benito 
County;  California  Magnesia  Company'  (old  Harker  mine)  at  Porter- 
ville ;  and  Maltb}^  No.  2  in  Chiles  Valley,  Napa  County.  Lesser  amounts 
were  reported  mined  in  Fresno  and  Stanislaus  counties. 

Detailed  descriptions  of  these  mines  and  plants  are  given  by  the 
writer^  in  Bulletin  No.  79  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  recently 
published. 

On  the  whole,  the  magnesite  industry  is  in  a  fairly  satisfactory 
condition ;  the  market  is  firm,  and  the  use  of  this  material,  particularly 
the  plastic  form,  is  increasing  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  Because  of  high 
freight  rates,  California  is  at  a  disadvantage  competing  in  the  Atlantic 
sea-board  states  with  foreign  importations,  but  can  at  least  hold  its 
own  as  far  east  as  the  Mississippi  River,  under  present  conditions. 

Occurrence. 

Magnesite  is  a  natural  carbonate  of  magnesium,  and  when  pure  con- 
tains 52.4%  CO,  (carbon  dioxide)  and  47.6%  MgO  (magnesia).  It  has 
a  hardness  of  3.5  to  4.5,  and  specific  gravity  of  3  to  3.12.  It  is  both 
harder  and  heavier  than  calcite  (calcium  carbonate),  and  also  contains 
a  higher  percentage  of  CO,  as  calcite  has  but  44%. 

Most  of  the  California  magnesite  is  comparatively  pure,  and  is  ordi- 
narily a  beautiful,  white,  fine-grained  rock  with  a  couchoidal  fracture 
resembling  a  break  in  porcelain.  The  Grecian  magnesite  is  largely  of 
this  character;  but  the  Austrian  varieties  usually  contain  iron,  so 
that  they  become  brown  after  calcining.  The  "Washington  magnesite 
resembles  dolomite  and  some  crystalline  limestones  in  physical  appear- 
ance.    Its  color  varies  through  light  to  dark  gray,  and  pink. 

In  California  the  known  deposits  are  mostly  in  the  metamorphic  rocks 
of  the  Coast  Ranges  and  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  being  associated 
with  serpentine  areas.  The  notable  exceptions  are  the  sedimentary 
deposits,  at  Bissell  in  Kern  County  and  at  Afton  in  San  Bernardino 
County.  Several  thousand  tons  have  been  shipped  from  the  Bissell 
deposit ;  and  small  shipments  have  been  made  from  the  Afton  property. 

The  Washington  deposits  are  associated  with  extensive  strata  of 
dolomitic  limestone.  The  magnesite  there  appears  to  contain  more  iron 
than  most  of  the  California  mineral,  which  makes  it  desirable  for  the 
steel  operators.  However,  recent  experience  has  proved  that  several 
California  localities  have  sufficient  iron  in  their  magnesite  to  be  service- 
able in  the  steel  furnaces.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  Refractory 
Magnesite  Company's  mine  near  Preston  in  Sonoma  County,  the  Wliite 
Rock  Mine  at  Pope  Valley  and  the  Blanco  i\Iine  in  Chiles  Valley,  Napa 
County.  There  is  some  also  at  the  Sampson  Peak  property  in  San 
Benito  County. 

Uses. 

The  principal  uses  include :  Refractory  linings  for  basic  open-hearth 
steel  furnaces,  copper  reverberatories  and  converters,  bullion  and  other 

'Bradley,  W.  W..  Magnesite  in  California:  Cal.  State  Min.  Bur..  Bull.  79.  1925. 


78  .\I1\EKAI.    IXDrsTli'V    OF    (  ALlI'Oli.VIA. 

nietalluro:ic-al  furnaces;  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  from  wood  pulp; 
and  in  structural  work,  for  exterior  stucco,  for  flooring,  wainscoting, 
tiling,  sanitary  kitclien  and  hospital  finishing,  etc.  In  connection  with 
building  work  it  has  proved  particularly  efficient  as  a  flooring  for  steel 
railroad  coaches,  on  account  of  having  greater  elasticity  and  resilience 
than  "Portland'  cement.  For  refractory  purposes  the  magnesite  is 
'dead-burned' — (''  e.,  all  or  practically  all  of  the  COo  is  expelled  from  it. 
For  cement  purposes  it  is  left  'caustic' — i.  e.,  from  2%  to  10%  of  COo 
is  retained.  When  dry  caustic  magnesite  is  mixed  with  a  solution  of 
magnesium  cldoride  (MgCh,)  in  proper  proportions,  a  very  .strong 
cement  is  produced,  known  as  oxychloride  or  Sorel  cement.  It  is 
applied  in  a  plastic  form,  which  sets  in  a  few  hours,  as  a  tough,  seam- 
less surface.  It  has  also  a  very,  strong  bonding  power,  and  will  hold 
firmly  to  wood,  metal,  or  concrete  as  a  base.  It  may  be  finished  with 
a  very  smooth,  even  surface,  which  will  take  a  good  wax  or  oil  polish. 
As  ordinarily  mixed  there  is  added  a  certain  proportion  of  wood 
flour,  cork,  asbestos,  or  other  filler,  thereby  adding  to  the  elastic 
properties  of  the  finished  product.  Its  surface  is  described  as  'warm' 
and  'quiet'  as  a  result  of  the  elastic  and  nonconducting  character  of 
the  composite  material.  The  cement .  is  frequently  colored  by  the 
addition  of  some  mineral  pigment  to  the  materials  before  mixing  as 
cement. 

For  refractory  purposes  the  calcined  magnesite  is  largely  made  up 
into  bricks  similar  to  fire-brick  for  furnace  linings.  It  is  also  used 
unconsolidated,  as  'grain'  magnesite.  For  such,  an  iron  content  is 
desirable,  as  it  allows  of  a  slight  sintering  in  forming  the  brick.  Dead- 
burned,  pure,  magnesia  can  not  be  sintered  except  at  very  high  tempera- 
tures ;  and  it  has  little  or  no  plasticity,  so  that  it  is  hard  to  handle.  Its 
plasticity  is  said  to  be  improved  by  using  with  it  some  partly  calcined 
or  caustic  magnesite.  Heavy  pressure  will  bind  the  material  sufficiently 
to  allow  it  to  be  sintered. 

A  coating  of  crushed  magnesite  is  laid  on  hearths  used  for  heating 
steel  stock  for  rolling,  to  prevent  the  scale  formed  from  attacking  the 
fire-brick  of  the  hearth. 

Imports  and    Domestic   Production. 

Reports  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce 
show  imports  of  calcined  magnesite  to  have  been  172,591  long  tons  in 
1913;  144,747  in  1914,  and  63,347  in  1915;  most  of  it  coming  from 
Austria-Hungary  and  some  from  Greece.  For  the  same  years  the  pro- 
duction of  crude  (from  2  to  2^  tons  of  crude  ore  required  to  yield 
one  ton  of  the  calcined)  magnesite  in  California  (the  sole  producer  of 
those  years,  in  the  United  States)  was:  9632  short  tons,  11.438  tons, 
30,721  tons,  respectively.  For  1916  the  California  output  leaped  to 
154,052  tons  of  crude  and  to  209,648  tons  in  1917,  but  following  which 
it  dropped  considerably  on  account  of  resumption  of  foreign  imi)orta- 
tions.  which  totaled  52,483  long  tons  in  1921,  valued  at  .^776,384  being 
then  admitted  duty  free.  Shipments  from  AVa.shiugton  were  begun 
late  in  1916:  and  during  the  following  three  years  assumed  important 
proportions. 

The  Tariff  Act  of  1922,  which  became  effective  September  22d,  of 
that  year,  placed  the  following  im.port  duties  on  magnesite:  Crude 
magnesite  %6^  per  lb.,  caustic-calcined  magnesite  %^  per  lb. ;  dead- 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


79 


burned  and  grain  magnesite,  not  suitable  for  manufacture  into  oxy- 
chloride  cements,  -%oC  per  lb.;  magnesite  brick,  %^  per  lb.  and  10% 
ad  valorem.  The  figures  of  imports  for  1924  as  published  by  the 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce,  show  a  total  of 
62.862  long  tons  of  calcined  ore  valued  at  $1,098,998,  as  compared  with 
76,813  long  tons  and  $1,132,113  in  1923. 

Total    Magnesite   Production  of  California. 

The  first  commercial  production  of  magnesite  in  California  was  made 
in  the  latter  part  of  1886  from  the  Cedar  [Mountain  district,^  .southeast 
of  Livermore,  Alameda  County.  Shipments  amounting  to  'several  tons' 
or  'several  carloads'  were  sent  by  rail  to  New  York;  but  there  is  appar- 
ently no  exact  record  of  the  amount  for  that  first  3'ear.  The  statistical 
records  of  the  State  Alining  Bureau  began  with  the  year  1887,  and  the 
table  herewith  shows  the  figures  for  amount  and  value,  annually,  from 
that  time.  Shipments  of  magnesite  from  Napa  Count}'  began  in  1891 
from  the  Snowflake  ^line ;  from  the  lied  Mountain  deposits  in  Santa 
Clara  County,  in  1899 ;  and  from  Tulare  County  in  1900. 


Production  of  Magnesite  in  California,  Since  1887. 


Tear 


Toni 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


1887 '  600  $9,000 

1888 600  9,000 

1889 600  9,000 

1890 -—  600  9,000 

1891 1,500  15,000 

1892 1,500  15,000 

1893 1,093  10,930 

1894 1,440  10.240 

1895 -  2,200  17,000 

1896 1.500  11.000 

1897 1,143  13,671 

1898 1,263  19.075 

189<J 1,280  18.480 

19fin 2.252  19.333 

4,726  43.057 

2,830  20,655 

1.-  1.361  20.515 

10(11              .      .    2,850  9.298 

1905 3.933  16.221 

1906 4,032  40,320 


1907 

1908 

Tfl9 

1910 

1911 — - 

1912 

1913 

•014   

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

UI19  

1920 

1921  

1922 

1923 

1924   

Totals 970,701 


YalM 


6,405 

$57,720 

10,582 

80,822 

7,942 

62,588 

16,570 

113.887 

8,858 

67.430 

10,512 

105.120 

9,632 

77,056 

11,438 

114,380 

30,721 

283,461 

154,a52 

1.311.893 

209.648 

1.976.227 

83,974 

803,492 

44.696 

452.094 

83,695 

1.033,491 

47.837 

.511.102 

55,637 

594,665 

73,963 

946,643 

67,23<; 

900.183 

$9,828,049 


MARBLE. 

Bibliographij:  State  Mineraloirist  Reports  NII-XV  (inc.i.  XVII- 
XXI  (inc.).     Bulletin  38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  106. 

Marble  is  widely  distributed  in  California,  and  in  a  considerable 
variety  of  colors  and  grain.  The  1924  figures  show  an  increase  both 
in  (|uaiitity  and  value  over  those  of  1923,  Init  are  eoml)ined  with  the 
figures  for  onyx  and  travertine  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator. 

California  has  many  beautiful  and  serviceable  varieties  of  marble, 
suitable  for  almost  any  conceivable  purpose  of  construction  or  decora- 
tion.    In  the  decorative  cla.ss  are  deposits  of  onyx  marble  of  beautiful 

.~^ee  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv. ;   Mineral  Resources  of  U.  S.,   1886,  pp.   6  and  696. 


80 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


coloring  and   effects.     There   is   also  serpentine   marble   suitable   for 
electrical  switchboard  use. 

Marble    Production    of   California,   by    Years.  I 

Data  on  annual  production  since  1887,  as  compiled  by  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  follows.  Previous  to  1894  no  records  of  amounts  were 
preserved. 


Valu* 


1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903  , 

1904 

1905 

1906 


38.441 

14,864 

7,888 

4,102 

8,050 

9,682 

4.103 

2,945 

19,305 

84,624 

55,401 

73,303 

31,400 


$5,000 

5,000 

87.030 

80.000 

100.000 

115.000 

40.000 

98,326 

56.566 

32,415 

7,280 

23.594 

10,550 

5,891 

4,630 

37,616 

97,354 

94.208 

129,450 

75.800 


1907 ! 

37,512 

1908 

18  653 

1909 .. 

79,600 

1910 

18.960 

1911  

1912 .. 

20,201 
27,820 

1913 

41,654 

1914 

25.436 

1915 1 

22.186 

1916 

1917 

25.954 
24,755 

1918 ... 

'17,428 

1919 . 

25,020 

1920 

1921      - 

"29,531 
30.232 

1922      

38.321 

1923 

28  015 

1924 

•>61,579 

Total  value 

S118.066 

47.665 

238.400 

50.200 

54,103 

74,120 

113,282 

48.832 

41.518 

50.280 

62,950 

49,898 

74,482 

92.899 

98.395 

127,792 

124.919 

140,253 

^2,713,7iU 


■Includes  onyx  and  serpentine. 
"Includes  onyx. 

ONYX  and  TRAVERTINE. 

Bihliograplni :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV   (inc.),  XVII. 
XVill.     Bulletin  38. 

Onyx  and  travertine  are  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places  in 
California,  but  there  has  been  only  a  small  and  irregular  production 
since  the  year  1896.     In  1924  there  were  shipments  from  Solano  and! 
]\rono  counties  the  figures  for  which  are  combined  with  marble. 


Onyx   Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

Production  by  years  was  as  follows: 


1887  $900 

1888     ..,  900 

1889 900 

1890  1.500 

1891 2.400 

1892 1,800 

1893  27,000 

1894  20.000 

1895  12,000 


Tear 

Value 

1896           . 

?24.000- 

• 

1918                     

1919                                     --    .. 

1920     - 

* 

1.294 
3,320 
2,510 

• 

1921   

1922   

1923   

1924       ._     

Total  value 

$98,524 

*See  under  Marble. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


81 


Travertine  being  deposited  by  mineral  spring  at  Bridgeport,  Mono  County. 

SANDSTONE. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XV,  XVII,  XVIII, 
XXI.     Bulletin  38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  124. 

An  unlimited  amount  of  high-grade  sandstone  is  available  in  Cali- 
fornia, but  the  wide  use  of  concrete  in  buildings  of  every  character,  as 
well  as  the  popularity  of  a  lighter-colored  building  stone,  has  curtailed 
production  in  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  during  recent  years 
almost  to  the  vanishing  point.  In  1924  two  counties — Monterey  and 
Ventura — turned  out  6700  cubic  feet,  valued  at  $3,600 ;  compared  with 
7000  cubic  feet  and  $13,000  in  1923.  The  main  feature  of  the  loss 
since  1914  is  the  closing  of  the  well-known  Colusa  quarries,  on  account 
of  the  competition  of  lighter-colored  materials.  The  material  reported 
from  Monterey  County  in  1924  is  in  reality  an  indurated  shale  of  the 
Monterey  series,  of  a  cream-color  and  utilized  as  a  building  stone. 


6—41922 


82 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Sandstone  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value,  so  far  as  contained  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau, 
are  presented  herewith,  with  total  value  from  1887  to  date : 


Tear 


Cubic  feet 


Value 


Tear 


Cubic  feet 


Value 


1887 i $175,000 

1888 ' 150.000 

1889 175.598 

1890 100,000 

1891 100.000 

1892 50.000 

1893 26,314 

1894 113,592 

1895 35,373 

1896 I I  28,379 

1897 I I  24,086 

1898 46,384 

1899 56,264  103,384 

1900 , 378,468  254,140 

1901 266,741  192,132 

1902 212,123  142,506 

1903 353.002  585,309 

1904 363,487  567.181 

1905 302,813  483,268 

1906 182.076  ltJ4,o08 


1907 159.573  $148il48l 

1908 - -  93.301  I    55.151 

1909  — 79,240  '    37,032 

1910 165,971  80,443 

1911 255,313  127,314 

1912 66.487  22,574 

191? 62,227  27.870 

1914 111,691  45,322 

1915 63.350  8.438  . 

1916 17,270  10.271  i 

1917 31,090  7.074  ' 

1918 900  400 

1919 —  I  5.400  ,     3.720 

1920 10.500  2,300 

1921 10,150  2,112 

1922    —  900  1,100 

1923 7.000  13.000 

1924 6,700  3.G0U 

Total  value $4,112,58.3 


SERPENTINE. 
Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Keport  XY 


Bulletin  38. 


Serpentine  has  not  been  produced  in  California  to  a  very  large  extent 
at  any  time.  A  single  deposit,  that  on  Santa  Catalina  Island,  has 
yielded  the  principal  output  to  date.  Some  material  was  shipped  from 
there  in  1917  and  1918,  being  the  only  output  recorded  since  1907.  It 
was  used  for  decorative  building  purposes  and  for  electrical  switch- 
boards. As  there  was  but  a  single  operator,  the  figures  were  combined 
with  those  of  marble  output  for  those  years. 

Serpentine   Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

The  following  table  shows  the  amount  and  value  of  serpentine  from 
]  895  as  recorded  bv  this  Bureau : 


Cubic  feet 

Value        1 

4,000 

$4,000 

1,500 

6,000 

2,500 

2,500 

750 

3,000 

500 

2,000 

350 

2.000 

89 

890   1 

512 

5,065 

99 

800 

Cubic  feet  Value 


1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 ._, 

1901 

1902 

1903... 

*  Under    'Unapportioned.' 
•■See  under  Marble. 


1904 200  $2,310 

1905 

1906 847  1.694 

1907 1,000  3,000 

1917 a  a 

1918 b        ,  b 

1919 


Totals 


12.347 


$33,259 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  83 


SLATE. 

Bibliography:  State  ]\Iineralot>:i^^t  Keports  XV,  XVIII.     Bulletiu 
38.     U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  586.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bull.  218. 

Slate  was  first  produced  in  California  in  1889.  Up  to  and  including 
1910  such  production  was  continuoiLS,  but  since  then  it  has  been  irregu- 
lar. Large  deposits  of  excellent  quality  are  known  in  the  state,  espe- 
cially iu  El  Dorado,  Calaveras  and  .Mariposa  counties,  but  the  demand 
has  been  light  owing  principally  to  competition  of  cheaper  roofing 
materials. 

'Slate'  is  a  term  applied  to  a  fine-grained  rock  that  has  a  more  or 
less  perfect  cleavage,  permitting  it  to  be  readily  split  into  thin,  smooth 
sheets.  Varieties  differ  widely  in  color  and  have  a  considerable  range 
in  chemical  and  mineralogical  composition.  Excepting  certain  rare 
slates  of  igneous  origin  (of  which  the  green  slate  of  the  Eureka  quarry. 
El  Dorado  County,  California,  is  an  example)  formed  from  volcanic  ash 
or  igneous  dikes,  slates  have  originated  from  sedimentary  deposits  con- 
sisting largely  of  clay.  By  consolidation,  and  the  pressure  of  super- 
imposed materials,  clays  become  bedded  deposits  of  shale.  By  further 
consolidation  under  intense  pressure  and  high  temperature  incident  to 
mountain-building  forces,  shales  are  metamorphosed  to  slates.  The 
principal  mineral  constitutents  are  mica,  quartz,  and  chlorite.  Avith 
smaller  varying  amounts  of  hematite,  rutile,  kaolin,  graphite,  feldspar, 
tourmaline,  calcite,  and  others. 

The  color  of  .slate  is  of  economic  importance.  The  common  colors  are 
gray,  bluish  gray,  and  black,  though  reds  and  various  shades  of  green 
are  occasionally  found. 

The  permanency  of  slate  for  roofing  is  well  known.  It  is  stated  that 
there  are  slate  roofs  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  over  100  years  old. 

'"In  England  and  Wales,  and  in  France,  many  buildings  constructed  in  the  15th  and 
16th  centuries  were  roofed  with  slate,  and  the  roofs  are  still  in  excellent  condition. 
There  is  a  record  of  a  chapel  in  Bedford-on-Avon  in  Wiltshire,  England,  roofed  with 
slate  in  the  8th  century,  and  after  1200  years  of  climatic  exposure  is  moss-covered 
but  in  good  condition." 

Contrary  to  the  general  impression,  however,  the  major  portion  of 
the  slate  produced  in  the  United  States  is  used  on  the  inside  rather  than 
the  outside  of  buildings.  Its  interior  uses  include  stationary  washtubs, 
electrical  switchboards,  and  blackboards. 

A  square  of  roofing  slate  is  a  sufficient  number  of  pieces  of  any  size 
to  cover  100  square  feet  of  roof,  with  allowance  generally  for  a  three- 
inch  lap.  The  sizes  of  the  pieces  of  slate  making  up  a  square  range 
from  7x9  inches  to  16  x  24  inches,  and  the  number  of  pieces  in  a 
square  ranges  from  85  to  686.  The  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco,  is 
roofed  with  Eureka  slate  from  El  Dorado  County. 

In  California,  there  were  no  shipments  in  1924,  but  at  present,  there 
are  prospects  of  commercial  output  being  renewed. 


>  Bowles,  O.,  Slate  as  a  permanent  roofing  material :  U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Reports  of 
Investigations,  Serial  No.   2267,  July,   1921,  p.   4. 


84 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CAXJFORNIA. 


Total   Production  of  Slate   in   California. 

A  complete  record  of  amount  and  value  of  slate  produced  in  Cali- 
fornia follows: 


Year 

Squares 

Value 

Year 

Squares 

Value 

1889... 

4.500 

4.000 

4.000 

3.500 

3.000 

1.800 

1.350 

500 

400 

400 

810 

3.500 

5.100 

4.000 

10,000 

$18,089 

24.000 

24.000 

21.000 

21.000 

11.700 

9.450 

2.500 

2.800 

2.800 

5.900 

26.250 

38.250 

30.000 

70.000 

1904 

1905 

1906 

6.000 
4.000 
10.000 
7.000 
6000 
6,%1 
1,000 

$50,000 

1890             .  

40,000 

1891  

100.000 

1892 

1907 

60.000 

1893          

1908 

60.000 

1894 

1909... 

45.660 

1895 

1910 

8,000 

18%               ..  

1911... 

1897.    .    

1915 

1,000 

5.000 

1898 

1916 

1899 

1920  .-       

8 

80 

1900 

1921 

1901 

1922 

« 

• 

1902                

1923       .        

1903 

Totals 

88.829 

$676.47 

*Corcealed  under  IJnapportiored.' 


MISCELLANEOUS  STONE. 

Bibliography:     State     ^lineralogist     Reports     XII-XXI     (inc.). 
Bulletin  38 ;  also  annual  statistical  bulletins  from  1915  to  date. 

'Miscellaneous  stone'  is  the  name  used  throughout  this  report  as  the 
title  for  that  branch  of  the  mineral  industry  covering  crushed  rock  of 
all  kinds,  paving  blocks,  sand  and  gravel,  and  pebbles  for  grinding 
mills.  The  foregoing  are  very  closely  related  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  producer;  therefore  it  has  been  found  to  be  most  satisfactory  to 
group  these  items  as  has  been  done  in  recent  reports  of  this  Bureau. 
So  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  crushed  rock  production  has 
been  subdivided  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  put.  It 
will  be  noted,  however,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  output  has  been 
tabulated  under  the  heading  "Unclassified.'  This  is  necessary  because 
of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what 
specific  use  their  rock  was  put  after  they  have  quarried  and  sold  the 
same  to  distributors  and  contractors. 

In  addition  to  amounts  produced  by  commercial  firms,  both  corpo- 
rations and  individuals,  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  state  but  uses 
more  or  less  gravel  and  broken  rock  on  its  roads.  Of  much  of  this, 
particularly  in  the  country  districts,  there  is  no  definite  record  kept. 

For  the  year  1924,  crushed  rock  registered  gains  both  in  tonnage 
and  value  over  the  preceding  year :  but  sand  and  gravel  showed  a  slight 
decrease.  The  result  was  a  net  gain  for  the  group,  the  1924  total  value 
being  $15,966,380  as  compared  with  $15,395,652  in  1923.  Continuance 
of  general  building  work  and  highway  paving  are  in  part  responsible 
as  well  as  hydro-electric  power-plant  installations  and  harbor  protec- 
tion (breakwater  and  jetty  construction). 

As  for  some  years  past,  Los  Angeles  County  led  all  others  by  a  wide 
margin  with  an  output  valued  at  $5,923,329  (compared  with  $5,408,80S 
in  1923);  followed  bv  Alameda,  second,  with  $1,158,886;  Del  Norte, 
third.  $721,720;  Contra  Costa,  fourth,  $646,369;  Sacramento,  fifth, 
$639,811 ;  Shasta,  sixth,  $587,637  ;  Riverside,  seventh,  $561,861 ;  Orange, 
eighth,  $505,932;  followed  in  turn  by  Humboldt,  Fresno,  San  Diego, 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


85 


Marin,  San  Bernardino,  San  Benito,  Napa,  and  Santa  Clara,  in  the 
order  named,  each  with  a  total  between  a  half  and  a  quarter-million 
dollars. 

Paving   Blocks. 

The  paving  block  industry  has  decreased  materially  of  recent  years, 
almost  to  the  vanishing  point,  because  of  the  increased  construction  of 
smoother  pavements  demanded  by  motor-vehicle  traffic.  The  blocks 
made  in  Solano  County  were  of  basalt;  those  from  Sonoma  are  of 
basalt,  andesite,  and  some  trachyte,  while  those  from  Placer,  Riverside, 
San  Bernardino,  and  San  Diego  are  of  granite. 

Production  in  1924  amounted  to  only  11  M,  valued  at  $935. 

The  amount  and  value  of  paving  block  production  annually  since 
1887  has  been  as  follows : 


Amount 
M 

Talus 

*10.000 

$350,000 

1907 

10,500 

367,500 

1908 

7,303 

297,236 

1909 

7,000 

245,000 

1910 

5.000 

150.000 

1911 

*3,000 

96,000 

1912 

2,770 

96,950 

1913 

2,517 

66,981 

1914 

2,332 

73,338 

1915 

4.161 

77.584 

1916 

1,711 

35.235 

1917 

1,144 

21.725 

1918 

305 

7.861 

1919 

1,192 

23,775 

1920 

1,920 

41.075 

1921 

3,502 

112.437 

1922 

4,854 

134,642 

1923 

3.977 

161,752 

1924 

3,408 
4.203 

134,347 

173,432 

r 

Amount 
M 

Valut 

4,604 

$199,347 

7,660 

334,780 

4,503 

199,803 

4,434 

198,916 

4.141 

210,819 

11,018 

578,355 

6,364 

363,505 

6.053 

270,598 

3,285 

171,092 

1,322 

54,362 

938 

38,567 

372 

17,000 

27 

1,350 

63 

3.155 

4 

280 

72 

3.924 

15 

880 

11 

935 

135,675 

$5,314,538 

1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 


Totals- 


*  Figures  for  1887-1892  (inc.)  are  for  Sonoma  County  only,  as  none  are  available 
for  other  counties  during  that  period ;  though  Solano  County  quarries  were  then 
also  quite  active. 

Grinding   Mill   Pebbles. 

Production  of  pebbles  for  tube  and  grinding  mills  began  commer- 
cially in  California  in  1915.  Owing  to  the  decreased  imports  and 
higher  prices  of  Belgium  and  other  European  flint  pebbles,  due  to  the 
war,  there  was  a  serious  inquiry  for  domestic  sources  of  supply.  One  of 
the  shipments  made  in  that  year  was  of  pebbles  selected  from  gold- 
dredger  tailings  in  Sacramento  County,  for  use  in  a  gold  mill  in 
Amador  County  employing  Hardinge  mills. 

The  important  development  in  this  item,  however,  took  place  in  San 
Diego  County.  At  several  points  along  the  ocean  shore  from  Encinitas 
south  to  near  San  Diego,  there  are  beaches  of  washed  pebbles  varying 
from  1  inch  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  which  come  from  conglomerate 
beds  made  up  of  well-rounded  water-worn  pebbles  of  various  granitic 
and  porphyritic  rocks  with  some  felsite  and  flint.  The  wave  action  has 
broken  down  portions  of  the  cliffs  for  considerable  distances  and 
formed  beaches  of  the  pebbles  which  are  well  washed  and  cleaned  of 
the  softer  materials.     The  rocks  sorted  out  for  shipment  are  mainly 


86 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


l)asalt  and  diabase,  with  an  oeca,sional  felsite  and  flint  pebble.     There 
is  a  tough  black  basalt  which  is  stated  to  give  satisfactory  results.     Ii 
Fresno  County  pebbles  have  been  .selected  from  the  gravel  beds  of  theL 
San    Joaquin    Kiver   near    Friant.      Shipments    have    been    made    to 
metallurgical  plants  in  California,  Nevada,  ^Montana  and  Utah. 

Imports  in  1924  amounted  to  15,601  long  tons,  valued  at  $114,958 
compared  with  .14,243  tons  and  $130,974  in  1923. 

Californian  output  for  1924  was  434  tons,  valued  at  $2,969,  a  decrease 
from  the  1923  figures. 

The  amount  and  value  of  grinding  mill  pebbles,  annually,  follows ; 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1915 

1916 

1917  

1918 

1919    

1920  —- 

1921   

1922   

1923 

1924 

Totals 60,263 


340 

$2,810 

20,232 

107,567 

21,4-50 

90,538 

8.628 

61,268 

2.607 

19,272 

2,1W 

17,988 

247 

1.418 

1.571 

7,628 

2,650 

14,936 

434 

2.969 

$2.56,394 


Sand  and   Gravel. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  gravel  excavated  is  passed  through  grading 
and  washing  plants,  and  the  material  over  2  inches  in  size  is  crushed. 
Much  of  it  is  utilized  in  concrete  mixtures.  ]\Iost  of  the  gravel  used 
for  road  surfacing  and  repairs  as  well  as  that  for  railroad  ballast  is 
creek-run  or  pit-run  material  which  is  spread  upon  the  roads  without 
undergoing  any  grading  or  washing. 

The  distribution  of  the  1924  output  of  sand  and  gravel,  by  counties, 
is  given  in  the  following  table: 


County 


Tons 


Alameda 

Butte 

Calaveras 

Cdusa 

Contra  Costa 
El  Dorado... 

Fresno 

Glenn 

Humboldt... 

Imperial 

KoB 

Lake... 

Lassen 

Loe  Angdes.- 

Maripoea 

Meroed 

Mono 

Mooter^ 

Napa 

Nevada 

Orange 

Hacer 

Riverside 

Sacramento.. 


»1,262,095 

80,000 

86,124 

100.222 

•87.763 

1,279 

376.779 

189,188 

233,626 

59,385 

15,345 

33,337 

240 

3,479,620 

43,870 

15,090 

500 

>'245,896 

187,376 

30,262 

516,900 

17,433 

»14,300 

«350,021 


Value 


$809,818 

45,500 

56,000 

75,167 

48,004 

2,538 

262,722 

4l!s50 

190.109 

14.958 

4.044 

11,113 

100 

1,720.251 

36,000 

8.462 

300 

239,097 

151,876 

22,200 

405.932 

10,753 

14.500 

217.159 


County 


Tons 


San  Benito 

San  Bernardino. 

San  Diego 

San  Francisco... 

San  Joaquin 

San  Mateo 

Santa  Barbara. . 

Santa  Clara 

Santa  Crui 

Shasta. 

Sierra. 


Siskiyou 

Sonoma.. 

Stanislaus 

Tehama 

Trinity 

Tulare ^ 

Ventura 

Yuba .. 

Amador,  Madera.  Mariu, 
Mendocino,  Modor.  San 
Lois  Obispo,  Solano,  Volo* 


759,825 

*323,931 

10.000 

155.547 

47,671 

66,001 

217,592 

15,033 

177,265 

14^2 

21,600 

164,932 

119,152 

16.435 

1,360 

5,000 

•177,454 

259,997 


105,376 


Totals ...|     10,137,805 


Value 


*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  opoator  in  each. 

•Includes  molding  eand. 

^■Includes  molding,  Mast,  filter,  and  roofing  sand. 


$26,111 

241,376 

306,953 

5,000 

79,504 

28,589 

45,777 

155,053 

13.294 

197.078 

7,750 

16,000 

69.556 

108,050 

15,694 

1.240 

8.000 

113.763 

181.113 


63.953 


$6,072,007 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


87 


Tnclnded  in  the  above  is  a  total  of  32,968  tons  of  molding  sand,  valued 
at  $68,105,  f.  0.  b.  pit,  from  two  operators  in  San  Diego  County,  and 
one  each  in  Alameda,  Contra  Costa,  Monterey,  Riverside,  Sacramento, 
and  A'entura.  This  item  is  each  year  assuming  a  more  important 
position  in  the  commercial  mineral  list  of  California.  The  1923 
figures  totaled  33,194  tons  and  $66,634. 


Crushed    Rock. 


To  list  the  kinds  and  varieties  of  rock  utilized  commercially  under 
this  heading  Avould  be  to  run  almost  the  entire  gamut  of  the  classifica- 
tion scale.     ]\Iuch  depends  on  the  kind  available  in  a  given  district. 


Loading  crushed   rock   on    barge   at   quarry   of    Blake    Bros.,    Point    Richmond, 
Contra  Costa  County. 

Those  which  give  the  most  satisfactory  service  are  the  basalts  and  other 
hard,  dense,  igneous  rocks  which  break  with  sharp,  clean  edges.  In 
many  localities,  river-wash  boulders  form  an  important  source  of  such 
material.  In  such  cases,  combined  crushing  and  washing  plants  obtain 
varying  amounts  of  sand  and  gravel  along  with  the  crushed  sizes.  In 
Sacramento  and  Butte  counties  the  tailings  piles  from  the  gold  dredgers 
are  the  ba,sis  of  like  operations. 

The  values  given  are  based  on  tlie  selling  prices,  f.  o.  I),  cars,  barges, 
or  trucks,  at  the  quarry. 


88 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


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STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


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90 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Miscellaneous  Stone  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  amount  ami  value,  annually,  of  crushed  rock  (includiu»; 
macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  riprap,  and  that  for  concrete),  and  sand  and 
gravel,  since  1893,  follow : 


Crushed  Rock,  Sand  and  Gravel,  by  Years. 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1893 371,100  $456,075 

1894 661.900  664.838 

1895 1,254.688  1,095.939 

1896 960,619  839,884 

1897 821,123  600,112 

1898 1,177.365  814.477 

1899 964.898  786,892 

1900 789,287  561,642 

1901 530,396  641,a37 

1902 2,056,015  1,249,529 

1903 2,215,625  1,673,591 

1904 2,296,898  1,641,877 

1905 2,624,257  1.716,770 

1906 1,555.372  1.418,406 

19<37 -  2,288.888  1,915.015 

1908 3,99a945  3.241,774 

1909 5.531.561  2  708  326 


Tear  Tons 

1910 5,827,828 

1911 6,487,223 

1912 8,044,937 

1913 9,817,616 

1914 9.288,397 

1915 10,879.497 

1916 9,951,089 

1917 8,069,271 

1918 6.641,144 

1919 6.919.188 

1920 9,792,122 

1921 10,914,145 

1922  13,049,644 

1923  19,840,301 

111 -2  4 21.451.129 

Totals 187.072,468 


Valoe 


$2,777,690 
3,610,357 
4,532,598 
4.823.056 
3.960.973 
4,609,278 
4,009.590 
3,505,662 
3,325.859 
3.678.3-22 
6.782.414 
7.834,640 
10,.366,231 
1.5,379.  S.3-< 
15,962. 47'' 


$117,185,19'; 


A  comparison  of  the  above  table  of  annual  production  of  these 
materials  with  the  similar  table  for  cement  (see  ante),  reveals  the  fact 
that  the  important  growth  of  the  crushed  rock  and  gravel  business  has 
been  coincident  with  the  rapid  development  of  the  cement  industry 
from  the  vear  1902. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  91 

CHAPTER  FIVE. 

INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS. 

Bibliographij:  Reports  XII-XX  (inc.)-  Bulletin  38.  .Min.  &  Sci. 
Press,  Vol.  114,  March  10,  1917.  Spurr  and  Wormser,  ''Market- 
ing of  Metals  and  Minerals."  "Non-Metallic  Minerals,"  by 
R.  B.  Ladoo.     See  also  under  each  substance. 

The  following  mineral  substances  have  been  arbitrarily  arranged 
under  the  general  heading  of  'Industrial  Materials,'  as  distinguished 
from  those  which  have  a  clearly-defined  classification,  such  as  metals, 
salines,  structural  materials,  etc. 

These  materials,  many  of  which  are  mineral  earths,  are,  with  four  or 
five  exceptions,  as  yet  produced  on  a  comparatively  small  scale.  The 
possibilities  of  development  along  several  of  these  lines  are  large  and 
with  increasing  transportation  and  other  facilities,  together  with  stead- 
ily growing  demands,  the  future  for  this  branch  of  the  mineral  industry 
in  California  is  promising.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the  state  but 
might  contribute  to  the  output. 

Up  to  within  the  last  few  years,  at  least,  production  has  been  in  the 
majority  of  instances  dependent  upon  more  or  less  of  a  strictly  local 
market,  and  the  annual  tables  show  the  results  of  such  a  condition,  not 
only  in  the  widely-varying  amounts  of  a  certain  material  produced  from 
year  to  year,  but  in  widely-varying  prices  of  the  same  material.  Fur- 
thermore, the  quality  of  this  general  class  of  material  will  be  found  to 
fluctuate,  even  in  the  same  deposit. 

The  more  important  of  these  minerals  thus  far  exploited,  so  far  as 
shown  by  value  of  the  output,  are  limestone,  mineral  water,  pyrites, 
pottery  clays,  diatomaceous  earth,  gypsum,  talc,  dolomite.  One  new 
item,  galena  crystals  utilized  for  radio-detector  apparatus,  was  added  to 
the  list  in  1924. 

This  group  as  a  whole  showed  a  slight  decrease  in  the  total  value, 
from  $5,595,816  in  1923  to  $5,112,812  for  1924.  The  principal  gains 
were  by  limestone  and  mineral  water;  with  losses  by  cla}^,  gypsum, 
diatomaceous  earth,  pyrite,  and  talc. 


I 


92 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


The  following  table  gives  the  comparative  figures  for  the  amounts 
and  values  of  industrial  minerals  produced  in  California  during  the 
years  1923  and  1924: 


Substance 


1923 


Amouot 


Value 


Amount 


Value 


Increase+ 

DecresEe — 

Value 


Asbestoe 

Barytes 

Clay  (pottery) 

Dolomite 

Feldspar 

Fuller's  earth 

Gems 

Gypsum 

Infusorial  and  diatomaceous  earths. 

Limestone 

Lithia 

Mineral  paint 

Mineral  water 

Pumice  and  volcanic  ash 

IVrites 

Shale  oil 

Silica  (sand  and  quartz) 

Sillimanite  and  andalusite. 

Soapstone  and  talc 

Sulphur 

Unapportioned». 


Total  values. 
Net  decrease 


20  toni 
2,925  tons 
376,863  tons 
69,519  tons 
11,100  tons 
3,650  tons 


86,410  tons 
143,266  tons 


$200 

16,058 

697,841 

142.615 

81.800 

55.125 

13.220 

289.136 

* 

348,464 


70  tons 


$4,750 


417,928  tons 

28,843  tons 

9,055  tons 

5,290  tons 


1,049  tons 

5,487,276  gals. 

2.936  tons 

148,004  tons 

7,964  tons 

17,439  tons 


11,773 
616,919 

16,309 
555,308 

30,420 

252,661 

2,467,967 


25,569  tons 

219,476  tons 

109  tons 

532  tons 

1.159,211  gals. 

4,919  tons 

124,214  tons 

6,808  tons 

16,179  tons 


651,857 
71,271 
68,112 
67,295 
4.800 
53,210 

582,660 
2.269 
5.234 

818,726 
33,404 

517.835 

35,006 

242,770 

1.953,613 


$4  550+ 
16,058— 
45.984— 
71,.344— 
13.688— 
12,170+ 
8,420— 
235.926— 

234,196+ 

2,269+ 

6,539— 

201,807+ 

17,095+ 

37,473— 

•       + 

4.586+ 

9.891— 

514,354- 


$5,595,816 


$5,112,812 


$483,004- 


'Combined  under  'Unapportioned.' 

'In  1923  includes  diatomaceous  earth,  shale  oil,  andalusite-sillimanite,  sulphur;  in  1924  includes  diatomacrotis 
earth,  shale  oil,  andalusite-sillimanite,  sulphur,  mica  schist,  radio  galena  crystals. 

ASBESTOS. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII-XIX  (inc.'. 
Bulletins  38,  91.  Canadian  Dept.  of  M.,  Mines  Branch  Bulletin 
69.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  April  10,  1920,  pp.  531-533.  Eng.  & 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  113,  pp.  617-625;  670-677. 

In  1924,  a  total  of  70  tons  of  crude  a.sbestos  ore  and  fibre  valued  at 
$4,750  was  shipped  from  Californian  properties,  being  an  increase  over 
the  20  tons  and  $200  reported  in  1923.  This  was  mainly  due  to  the 
shipments  of  short-fibre  chrysotile  from  San  Benito  County  to  the 
Orient.  The  1924  figure  also  includes  amphibole  asbestos  utilized  in 
magnesite  composition  flooring. 

The  future  of  asbestos  mining  in  California  is  dependent  largely 
upon  the  development  of  uses  in  quantity  for  the  short-fibre  mill 
grades,  and  for  the  amphibole  variety.  There  are  apparently  large 
resources  of  such  material  that  can  be  made  available.  Some  spinning- 
grade  fibre  has  also  been  found  in  this  state,  notably  in  Nevada,  Cala- 
veras, and  Monterey  counties,  but  the  commercial  yield  to  date  has  been 
small.  There  are  extensive  serpentine  areas  in  the  Coast  Ranges,  in 
the  Klamath  Mountains,  and  in  several  sections  of  the  Sierra  Nevada 
Mountains  w-hich  are  within  the  range  of  possible  asbestos  producers, 
as  chrysotile  is  a  fibrous  form  of  serpentine.  Tliose  localities  all  yielded 
chromite  in  greater  or  less  amounts  during  the  World  "War  period. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


93 


Asbestos   Production    of   California,   by   Years. 


Total  amount  and  value  of  asbestos  production  in  California  since 
1887,  as  given  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau,  are  as  follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1887  .. 

1888  .. 

1889  .. 

1890  .. 

1891  .. 

1892  - 

1893  -. 

1894  -. 

1895  - 

1896  .. 

1897  .. 

1898  -. 

1899  .. 

1900  .. 

1901  .- 

1902  .. 

1903  _. 

1904  .. 

1905  _. 

1906  .. 


30 
30 
30 
71 
66 
30 
50 
50 
25 


$1,800 
1.800 
1,800 
4.260 
a960 
1.830 
2,500 
2.250 
1.000 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


10 

30 

50 

110 


200 

750 

1.250 

4,400 


10 

112 

70 


162 
2,625 

3.500 


1907  .. 

1908  -. 

1909  -. 

1910  . 

1911  .. 

1912  .. 

1913  - 

1914  .. 

1915  .. 

1916  .. 

1917  .. 

1918  ., 
1919^ 

1920  i 

1921  . 

1922  - 

1923  . 
192i  - 


70 

$3,500 

70 

6.100 

65 

6.500 

200 

20.000 

125 

500 

90 

2.700 

47 

1,175 

51 

1,530 

143 

2.860 

145 

2.380 

136 

10.225 

229 

9.903 

131 

6.240 

410 

19.275 

50 

1,800 

20 

200 

70 

4,750 

Totals- 


2,826  I      $133,725 


•Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 

BARYTES. 

BMiograpliy :  State  ]\Iineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV,  XV,  XVII. 
Bulletin  38.  Eng.  &  I^Iin.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  114,  p.  109,  July  15, 
1922;  Vol.  115,  pp.  319-324,  Feb.  17,  1923. 

There  were  no  commercial  shipments  of  crude  barytes  in  California 
during  1924.  In  1923,  the  output  amounted  to  a  total  of  2925  tons 
valued  at  $16,058  f.o.  b.  rail-shipping  point.  The  1923  product  came 
mainly  from  Nevada  County,  with  smaller  amounts  from  ]\Iariposa  and 
Shasta  counties,  and  was  consumed  principally  in  the  manufacture 
of  lithopone.  More  than  half  of  the  total  tonnage  of  barytes  utilized 
in  the  United  States  is  taken  in  the  manufacture  of  lithopone,  which  is 
a  chemically-prepared,  white  pigment  containing  approximately  70% 
barium  sulphate  and  'iO'^'t  zinc  sulphide.  This  is  one  of  the  principal 
constituents  of  'flat'  wall  paints. 

The  principal  uses  for  barytes,  after  washing  and  grinding,  are  as 
an  inert  pigment  and  filler  in  paint,  paper,  linoleum,  oilcloth  and 
rubber  manufacture,  and  in  the  preparation  of  lithopone  and  a  number 
of  chemicals.  The  most  important  of  such  chemicals,  other  than 
lithopone,  are:  barium  binoxide  (used  in  preparation  of  hydrogen 
peroxide)  ;  barium  carbonate  (used  by  pressed  brick  and  by  rubber 
mianufacturers  to  neutralize  sulphur  content)  ;  barium  chloride  (used 
in  battery  plates,  and  as  a  mordant  by  dry-color  manufacturers,  and 
in  tanning  leather)  ;  barium  nitrate  (used  in  munitions  and  in  making 
'red   fire'   material)  ;   barium  sulphate   precipitated,   or    'blanc   fixe' 


94 


AIliNKKAL    IMMS'IKV     Ol'    (  Al.II'OKNIA. 


(used  iu  rubber  inaiinfaeturc;  for  paintinj^  on  interior  steel  of  battle- 
sliips  and  other  sea-going  vessels;  also  as  a  detector  in  taking  X-ray 
pictures  of  the  human  body). 

Present  (juotations  for  l)arytes  vary  from  $7  to  ^i)  per  ton,  crude, 
f.  0.  b.  rail  shipping  point,  depending  on  (piality.  Most  baryte  has  to 
be  washed  and  acid  treated  to  remove  iron  stains  or  other  impurities 
before  being  suital)le  for  paint  use. 

Known  occurrences  of  this  mineral  in  California  are  located  in  Inyo. 
Los  Angeles,  Mariposa,  Monterey,  Nevada,  San  Bernardino,  Shasta  and 
Santa  Barbara  counties.  The  deposit  at  El  Portal,  in  Mariposa  County, 
has  given  the  largest  commercial  production  to  date,  in  part  witherite 
(barium  carbonate,  BaCO.O.  Witherite  has  also  been  found  in  Shasta 
County,  but  no  shipments  have  yet  l)een  made  from  the  deposit. 

Total    Barytes   Production  of  California. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  l)arytes  in  California,  according  to 
the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau,  was  in  1910.  The 
annual  figures  are  as  follows : 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


Tear  Tons      1     Value 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921  

1922 

1923 

1924  

Totals 23,595       $129,260 


1910 860  $5,640 

1911 309  2,207 

1912 j  564  2.812 

1913 _..!  1,600  3,680 

1914 2,000  3.0OO 

1915 410  620 

1916 :  1,606  5.516 

1917 4,420  25,633 


100 

$1,500 

1,501 

18,065 

3,029 

20,795 

901 

4,809 

3.370 

18,925 

2,925 

16,058 

CLAY    (Pottery). 

Bihliogmphii:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  I,  IV,  IX,  XII-XV, 
XVIII-XXI  (inc.).  Bulletin  38.  Preliminarv  Report  No.  7. 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Tech.  Paper  No.  262. 

At  one  time  or  another  in  the  history  of  the  state,  pottery  clay  has 
been  quarried  in  thirty-three  of  its  counties.  In  this  report,  'pottery 
clay'  refers  to  all  clays  used  in  the  manufacture  of  red  and  brown 
earthenware,  china  and  sanitary  ware,  flowerpots,  floor,  faience  and 
ornamental  tiling,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sewer  pipe,  drain  and  roof 
tile,  etc.,  and  the  figures  for  amount  and  value  are  relative  to  the  crude 
material  at  the  pit,  without  reference  to  whether  the  clay  was  sold  in 
the  crude  form  or  was  immediately  used  in  the  manufacture  of  any  of 
the  above  finished  products  by  the  producer.  It  does  not  include  clay 
used  in  making  brick  and  hollow  building  blocks. 

That  California  has  attained  to  an  important  position  in  her  clay 
products  industry  is  attested  to  in  a  recent  article^  from  the  manager 
of  one  of  the  large  ])lants  in  the  soutliern  part  of  the  state;  and  from 
which  we  quote  the  following : 

"The  importance  of  CaHfornia's  brick  and  clay  products  Industry  will  be  appreciated 
when  it  is  understood  that  no  other  State  in  the  Union  comes  as  near  to  producing  all 
of  its  requirements  in  these  lines  as  does  California.  There  is  manufactured  within 
the  State  all  the  sewer  pipe  used,  all  of  the  common  brick,  face  brick,  pressed  brick, 

'Linton,  Robt.,  California's  brick  and  clay  products  industry :  Cal.  Jour,  of  Develop- 
ment, June  1925,  pp.   5-6,  25-26. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  95 

enamel  I'd  brick,  terra  cotta,  roofing  tile,  hollow  building  tile,  drain  tile,  vitrified  clay 
conduit,  fiue  lining,  chimney  pipe,  quarry  tile  and  faience  tile,  decorative  tile,  oUas, 
flower  pots  and  other  red  earthenware  and  brown  stoneware. 

"There  is  further  manufactured  the  major  portion  of  fire  brick  and  refractory 
shapes  for  steel  mills,  railroads,  oil  refineries,  sugar  mills,  enamelled  sanitary  ware, 
etc.,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  the  wliite  ware,  chemical  ware  and  clay  specialties 
consumed  within  the  State.  Not  only  do  California  manufacturers  entirely  supply 
the  State  in  these  articles,  but  considerable  quantities  are  supplied  to  contiguous 
territory  and  certain  products  are  shipped  over  a  much  wider  radius.  Enamelled 
brick  and  tile  from  California  plants  are  shipped  as  far  north  as  Oregon  and 
e.xported  to  Hawaii.  Hawaii  also  purchases  considerable  quantities  of  California-made 
sewer  pipe,  stone-ware,  and  other  clay  products.  Super-refractories  and  decorative 
tile  from  California  plants  are  shipped  all  over  the  country,  even  as  far  as  the 
eastern  seaboard. 

"Clay  products,  which  are  not  made  in  this  State,  and,  therefore,  continue  to  be 
shipped  in  from  other  points,  are  limited  to  certain  lines  of  refractories,  chemical 
ware,  high  voltage  insulators,  fine  china,  spark  plugs,  novelties  and  other  specialties. 
FVom  time  to  time  foreign  countries  attempt  to  take  advantage  of  the  cheap  ocean 
transportation  afforded  by  tramp  steamers  to  dump  their  surplus  products  on 
California  shores.  Englisli  and  Scotch  fire  brick,  Welsh  and  Scandinavian  quarry 
tile,  Dutch  roof  tile  are  among  such  products.  These  importations  do  not,  however, 
at  the  present  time  replace  California  made  products  to  any  extent. 

*********** 

"Apparently  the  clays  in  Placer,  Amador  and  Riverside  counties  will  continue  to 
provide  the  major  sources  of  supply  for  our  clay  plants  for  some  time  to  come,  but 
when  they  do  eventually  approach  exhaustion,  undoubtedly  prospecting  will  disclose 
ample   new  supplies  to  take   their  place. 

"California  clay  beds  a.s  compared  with  those  in  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  valleys, 
which  furnish  the  raw  materials  for  most  of  the  clay  plants  in  the  East,  are  small 
in  size  and  irregular  in  character  and  grade.  As  a  matter  of  fact  it  is  only  by  careful 
control  of  mining  and  by  proper  blending  of  the  clays  that  the  recognized  high  quality 
of  California  clay  products  lias  been  attained.  Witli  the  exception  of  common  brick 
and  roof  tile,  usually  at  least  three  clays  enter  into  the  manufacture  of  almost  any 
California  clay  ware. 

"Actually  we  would  not  expect  to  find  on  the  Pacific  slope  clay  deposits  comparable 
in  size  and  uniformity  with  the  great  clay  beds  of  tlie  Mississippi  basin.  California 
clays  were  laid  down  in  arrri'?  of  bays  which  in  Tertiary  geologic  time  extended  in 
from  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  coastal  plain  was  narrow  even  then.  Disintegration 
of  the  feldspathic  igneous  rocks  from  which  the  clays  are  derived  did  not  take  place 
until  recent  periods.  None  of  the  clays  are  earlier  then  Eocene.  Consequently, 
although  the  igneous  rocks  contained  abundant  clay-making  materials  they  were  no 
large  settling  areas  available  for  collecting  them  as  the  igneous  rocks  disintegrated, 
and  they  were  deposited  only  in  the  arms  of  certain  bays  where  conditions  of  currents 
were  favorable.  Nor  was  there  opportunity  for  extensive  purification  by  repeated 
washing  down  and  re-deposition. 

**«*  ****** 

"The  principal  cost  factors  entering  in  the  production  of  clay  products  are :  Clay, 
fuel,  labor,  transportation.  At  present  the  industry  in  California  is  in  a  favorable 
position  as  regards  fuel,  there  being  ample  supplies  of  oil  and  gas,  and  as  regards  a 
satisfactory  labor  supply  ;  although  wage  rates  are  higher  than  the  average  paid  in 
Eastern  plants.  The  suggestions  submitted  concern  the  other  two.  As  already 
stated,  great  care  is  necessary  in  working  out  the  oroper  blending  of  California  clays 
to  produce  wares  of  required  quality,  and  in  maintaining  proper  control  of  the  blending 
when  once  decided  upon.  The  clays  required  for  blending  often  have  to  be  brought 
from  points  quite  widely  separated,  and  to  the  unavoidably  high  cost  of  operating 
small  clay  mines  there  must  be  added  the  cost  of  transportation  to  the  plants.  This 
item  of  freight  is  a  really  large  one.  At  a  local  sewer  pipe  plant  the  freight  on  the 
clays  used  varies  from  $1.00  to  $1.80  per  ton.  At  a  local  brick  plant  the  freight  on 
the  clays  used  varies  from  $1.00  to  $4.30  per  ton.  Compare  this  with  costs  of 
clays  used  at  Eastern  plants  making  similar  wares  where  the  clay  delivered  at  the 
plants  frequently  varies  somewhere  between  25(5  and  50((  per  ton,  and  it  will  readily 
be  appreciated  why  California  costs  are  high  as  compared  with  Eastern  costs,  and 
why  we  are  all  constantly  seeking  new  supplies  of  clay  which  can  be  delivered  to 
our  plants  at  lower  cost." 

There  are  many  other  important  uses  for  clays  besides  pottery  manu- 
facture. Aniono:  these  may  be  enumerated  paper,  cotton  iroods.  Mud 
chemicals.  Being  neutral,  clay  does  not  have  an  injurious  effect  upon 
other  constituents  used  in  the  manufacture  of  such  articles.  In  paper 
making,  clay  is  used  as  a  filler  in  news  and  similar  grades,  and  as  a 
coater  or  glazer  in  the  more  highly  finished  art  papers.  A  large  part 
of  the  china  clay  used  in  the  United  States  is  imported  from  England. 
Clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  are 
being  utilized  successfully  in  the  manufacture  of  soaps. 
^  During  1924,  a  total  of  48  producers  in  19  counties  reported  an  output 
of  417,928  short  tons  of  pottery  clay,  having  a  total  value  of  $651,858 
f.  0.  b.  rail-shipping  point,  for  the  crude  material,  as  compared  with  the 
1923  production  of  376,863  tons  worth  $697,841. 


96 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Because  of  the  fact  tliat  a  irivcii  pi-oduct  often  i-ecjuircs  a  mixture  of 
several  different  clays,  and  that  these  are  not  all  found  in  tlie  same  pit, 
it  is  necessary  for  most  clay-working  plants  to  buy  some  part  of  their 
raw  materials  from  other  localities.  For  these  reason.s,  in  compiling  the 
clay  industry  figures,  much  care  is  required  to  avoid  duplications.  So 
far  as  we  have  been  able  to  segregate  the  figures,  from  the  data  sent  in 
liy  the  operatives,  we  have  credited  the  clay  output  to  the  counties  from 
which  the  raw  material  originated;  and  have  deducted  tonn.ages  used 
ill  brick  manufacture,  as  bricks  are  cla.ssitied  separately,  herein. 

A  tabulation  of  the  direct  returns  from  the  producers,  by  counties, 
for  the  year  1U24,  is  shown  herewith  : 

Pottery   Clay,   In   1924. 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Used  in  the  manufacture  of — 

Alameda -.- 

2,482 
64,317 

84,065 

238 
97,670 

121,193 
1,750 

''12,783 
5,341 

28,089 

$1,124 

87,444 

132,855 

436 
146,508 

166,692 

4,470 

36,941 

5.666 

69,721 

Floor  and  drain  tile,  flue  lining,  sewer  and  chimney  pipe. 
Roofing  and  drain  tile,  sewer  and  chimney  pipe,  flue 

Los  .\ngcles 

lining,   architectural   terra   cotta,   refractories,   and 
stoneware,  and  various. 
Roofing,  floor,  faience  and  drain  tile,  sewer  and  conduit 

Monterey ... 

pipe,  flue  lining,  architectural  terra  cotta,  ground  fire 
clay,  china  ware,  and  various. 
Roofing  and  floor  tile. 

Placer 

Drain  and  roofing  tile,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sewer 

Riverside 

pipe,  and  various. 
Floor  and  faience  tile,  pottery  and  porcelain,  and  various. 

Sacramento 

Drain  tile  and  sewer  pipe,  red  earthenware,  refractories. 

San  Diego .       . 

Floor  and  faience  tile,  stoneware,  and  various. 

Roofing,  floor  and  faience  tile,  foundry-  casting,  red 

Calaveras.  Contra  Costa,  Humboldt, 
Kern.  Marin,  Merced,  Orange,  San 
Bernardino*,  Santa  Barbara,  Tuol- 
umne*  

earthenware,  and  various. 
Roofing  and  drain  tile,  sewer  and  chimney  pipe,  archi- 

tectural terra  cotta,  crashed  brick  for  roofing,  toilet 
preparations,  porcelain,  sanitarj-  ware,  and  various. 

Totals 

417,928 

$651,857 

'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 
"Includes  kaolin. 
''Include.?  'Cornwall  stone.' 


Pottery   Clay   Products. 

The  values  of  the  various  pottery  clav  products  made  in  California  i 
during  1924  totaled  $12,015.36,1.  compared  with  $10,523,168  in  1923, 
their  distribution  being  shown  in  tlie  followins?  tal)ulation: 


Product 

Number  of 
producers 

Tons 

Value 

Architectural  terra  cotta 

6 

7 

10 

10 

s 

5 

4 

3 

4 

15 

15 

17,605 

7.475 

8.291 

45,886 

68.T25 

$2,783,608 
264.245 
113,875 

1,269,064 

2,054,518 
363,679 

2,319,608 
596,214 
183,029 

1,383.951 

683.57* 

Chimney  pipe,  terra  cotta,  and  flue  linings 

Drain  tile       _     _ 

Rooting  tile _ 

Sewer  pipe          __          __                   

Stoneware  and  chemical  stoneware -- 

Sanitary  ware           __                  _          _          - 

China%vare  and  semi-vitreous  tableware  __ 

Red  earthenware _       - 

Floor,  faierjce,  niantel,  glazed  and  hand-nun 
Miscellaneous  art  pottery,   term   totta.   gar 
furniture,    mortar    colors,    vitrified    cond 
bisque  ware  and  doll  heads,  grog,  fire  cl 
refractories,   porcelain,   electrical   insulat* 
crushed  tile  for  roofing 

e  tile 

ien 

uit. 

ay, 

3rs, 

Total  value 

$12,015,361 

STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


97 


Important  increases  were  shown  In-  several  of  the  ahove  jj^roups, 
particularly  architectural  terra  cotta,  roofing'  tile,  sanitary  ware,  and 
flat  tile  (tloor,  faience,  mantel,  etc.). 


Pottery  Clay  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  crude  pottery  clay  output  in  California  since 
1887  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Tons 


Value 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
!l894 
1 1895 
1896 
1897 
1 1898 
il899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
11906 


75.000 

75,000 

75.000 

100.000 

lOO.OOO 

100,000 

24.856 

28,475 

37.660 

41,907 

24.592 

28,947 

40,600 

59,636 

55,679 

67,933 

90,972 

84,149 

133,805 

167,267 


$37,500 
37,500 
37,500 
50,000 
50.000 
50,000 
67,284 
35,073 
39,685 
62,900 
30,290 
33.747 
42,700 
60,956 
39,144 
74,163 
99,907 
81,952 
130,146 
162,283 


1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921    

1922 

1923 

1924 

Totals 


160.385 
208.042 
299.424 
249,028 
224,570 
199,605 
231,179 
179,948 
157,866 
134,636 
166,298 
112,423 
135,708 
203,997 
225,120 
277.232 
376,863 
417,928 


5,371,736 


$254,454 
325,147 
465.647 
324,099 
252,759 
215. G83 
201,273 
167,552 
133,724 
146,538 
154,602 
166,788 
245,019 

440,689 
362,172 
473,184 
697.841 
651,857 


$6,961,758 


DOLOMITE. 

!         BibUogmphy:  Reports  XV,  XVII-XXI   (inc.).  Bulletins  67,  91. 

'  The  production  of  dolomite  for  the  year  1924  totaled  28',843  tons 
I  valued  at  $81,271,  being-  a  decrease  from  the  69,519  tons  and  $142,615 
'of  1923,  and  came  from  a  total  of  eight  quarries  in  Inyo,  Monterey, 
iSan  Benito,  and  Tuolumne  counties.  The  decrease  was  due  mainly  to 
a  falling  otf  of  shipments  from  Inyo  and  Monterey  counties.  The 
^material  shipped  was  utilized  for  steel-furnace  lining,  manufacture  of 
|C0,,  flux,  burned  dolomitic  lime,  for  stucco  dash-coat,  and  tei-raz/o. 
I     The  1924  output  was  distributed  as  follows : 


County 

Inyo 

Monterey    

San  Benito  and  Tuolumne* 


Tons 
17.197 
1,240 
10,406 

28,843 


Value 

$37,491 

4.960 

28,820 

$71,271 


Totals 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  quarry  in  each. 

Dolomite   Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

Previous  to  the  1915  statistical  report  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau, 
idolomite  was  included  under  limestone,  as  the  two  minerals  are  closely 
'related,  chemically;  but  since  dolomite,  as  such,  has  been  found  to 
have  certain  distinctive  applications,  we  have  given  it  a  separate 
jclassification. 


-41922 


98 


MINERAL    INDUSTKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Amount  and  value  of  the  output  of  dolomite,  annually,  have  been  as 
follows : 


Year 

Toufl 

Value 

1915 

4.192 

$14,504 

13,313 


46.566 


1917 

27,911 
24,560 
24,502 
42,388 
31,195 
52,409 
69,519 
28.843 

66,416 

1918 

79.441 

1919                                                

67.953 

1920 

132.791 

1921 

'.»«J,155 

1922 

114.911 

1923 

142.615 

1924                                               -.    -.. 

71.271 

Totals                                                                         

318,832 

$83.'>,623 

FELDSPAR. 

Bibliocjiaphfj:  Reports  XV.  XVII.  XVIII.  XXI.  Bulletins  Gl,  Hi. 
U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  Bulletin  92.  Eng.  &  ^lin.  Jour. -Press, 
Vol.  115,  pp.  535-538,  Mar.  24,  1923. 

Feldspar  was  i)rodueed  by  nine  operators  in  two  counties  (Riverside 
and  San  Diego)  during  1924.  to  the  amount  of  9,055  tons,  valued  at 
$68J12.  being  a  slight  decrea>e  both  in  quantity  and  value  from  the 
1923  figures  which  were  ll.l(K)  tons  and  $81,800.  " 

The  product  was  used  in  the  ceramic  industry,  principally  in  pot- 
tery, porcelain,  enamel  wares,  also  enamel  brick  and  tile,  being  a 
constituent  of  both  the  body  and  the  glaze,  but  more  especially  the 
latter. 

The  requirements  of  the  potteiy  trade  demand  that  in  general  the 
percentage  of  free  silica  associated  with  the  feldspar  be  less  than  20%, 
and  in  some  cases  the  potters  specify  less  than  5%.  An  important 
factor,  also,  is  the  iron-bearing  minerals  frequently  present  in  pegma- 
tites and  granites,  such  as  biotite  (black  mica),  garnet,  hornblende,  and 
black  tourmaline.  Feldspar  for  pottery  uses  should  be  practically  free 
of  these.  The  white,  potash-mica,  muscovite,  is  not  particularly  objec- 
tionable except  that,  being  in  thin,  flexible  plates,  it  does  not  readily 
grind  to  a  fineness  required  for  the  feldspar. 

Present  quotations  are  from  $5  to  .$8  per  ton.  erude.  according  to 
quality. 

The  most  important  recent  developments  in  the  feldspar  resources 
of  California  have  taken  place  in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties, 
where  large  deposits  of  massive,  high-grade  spar  are  being  opened  up 
These  dejiosits  are  unusually  free  from  bhiek  mica  and  other  deleterioUN 
iron-bearing  minerals  ol).jeetionable  in  j)ottery  work.  The  importani 
liroducing  districts  are  near  Lakeside  and  Campo.  in  San  Diego  County, 
and  near  Lak<'view,  Murrietta.  and  Elsinore,  in  Riverside  County. 
No  shipments  have  been  reported  from  Monterey  and  Tulare  counties 
for  the  past  four  years. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


99 


Total   Feldspar   Production  of  California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  feldspar  production  in  California  since 
the  inception  of  the  industry  are  given  in  the  following  table,  by  years: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1910.. 

760 
740 
1,382 
2,129 
3,530 
1,800 
2,630 
11,792 

$5,720 
4,560 
6,180 
7,850 

16,565 
9,000 

14,350 

46,411 

• 

1918 

1919 

4,132 
1,272  ' 
4,518 
4,349 

4,587 

11,100 

9,055 

$22,061 

1911... 

12,965 

1912 

1920 - 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

Totals 

26,189 

1913 

28,343 

1914 

37,109 

1915. 

81,800 

1916 

68,112 

1917 

63,776 

$387,210 

FLUORSPAR. 

BMiography:  Reports  XVII,  XVIII.     Bulletins  67,  91.     En^.  & 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  117,  pp.  489-492,  Mar.  22,  1924. 

Fluorspar,  which  is  calcium  fluoride,  CaFg,  is  one  of  the  most 
important  non-metallic  minerals  from  an  industrial  standpoint.  About 
80%  of  the  commercial  mineral  is  prepared  in  the  'gravel'  form  and 
utilized  as  a  flux  in  the  manufacture  of  steel,  for  which  use  no  substi- 
tute has  yet  been  found.  In  the  United  States,  under  normal  business 
conditions,  the  consumption  for  that  purpose  is  125,000  to  150,000  tons 
annually.  Fluorspar  is  also  used  in  aluminum  smelting,  and  in  the 
manufacturing  of  enameled  w^are,  glazed  tile  and  brick,  opalescent 
glass,  and  certain  chemicals,  particularly  hydrofluoric  acid  and  its 
derivatives.  The  mineral  is  marketed  in  three  forms :  lump,  gravel, 
and  ground. 

'"Of  the  three  physical  forms  of  fluorspar  of  commerce,  lump,  gravel,  and  ground, 
two  grades  of  each  form  are  marketed.  Lump  and  gravel  are  sold  as  metallurgical 
or  fluxing  grades,  and  acid  grades ;  ground  is  sold  as  glass-enamel-ceramic  grade, 
and  acid  grade.  ILiump  spar  of  either  grade  should  not  be  too  large,  and  small  lump, 
not  exceeding  6  in.  in  diameter,  is  preferred  by  the  trade.  Specifications  for  physical 
form  of  metallurgical  lump  spar  demand  a  minimum  content  of  gravel  fluorspar,  as 
fines,  in  any  carload,  say  not  exceeding  one  ton.  Metallurgical  gravel  spar  should 
not  be  too  fine,  and  coarse  gravel  with  minimum  content  of  fluorspar  sand,  as  fines, 
is  more  acceptable  to  the  trade.  Size  specifications  for  metallurgical  gravel  spar 
demand  that  it  shall  pass  through  a  1-in.  ring. 

"The  market  specifications  for  standard  fluorspar  in  any  form  are  mainly  chemical 
and  governed  by  analysis.  Guaranteed  analysis  for  standard  metallurgical  or  fluxing 
grade  spar,  lump  or  gravel,  is  minimum  of  85  per  cent  calcium  fluoride,  and  maximum 
of  5  per  cent  silica.  Merchantable  grade  acid-spar,  lump,  gravel  and  ground,  varies 
somewhat  with  different  users.  Not  exceeding  2  per  cent  silica  and  under  97  per 
cent  calcium  fluoride  are  the  limits.  Part  of  the  trade  insists  on  a  guaranteed 
minimum  of  98  per  cent  calcium  fluoride  and  maximum  of  1  per  cent  silica,  though 
some  consumers  are  satisfied  with  a.  guaranteed  minimum  of  97  per  cent  calcium 
fluoride  and  maximum  of  2  per  cent  silica.  Glass-enamel-ceramic  grade  ground 
fluorspar  specifications  are  flexible,  the  users  of  that  class  of  spar  particularly 
demanding  fine  grinding,  preferably  150  to  200  mesh,  and  thorough  washing  free 
from  alumina ;  also  freedom  from  contamination  of  metallic  or^s  and  barytes. 
Analyses  for  glass-enamel-ceramic  spar  vary  from  90  to  95  per  cent  calcium  fluoride, 
2  to  5  per  cent  silica,  and  2  to  8  per  cent  calcium  carbonate. 

"The  usual  impurities  in  fluorspar  are  silica  and  calcium  carbonate,  which  are 
penalized,  as  a  rule.  Minor  impurities  in  fluorspar  are  ores  of  lead  and  zinc,  generally 
the  sulphides,  and  pyrites  and  barytes,  all  of  which  are  objectionable,  and  sometimes 
penalized. 


'Reed,  A.   H.,  Marketing  of  fluorspar:   Eng.   &  Min.   Jour.-Press,  Vol.   117,   p.   489, 
Mar.  22,  1924. 


100  MINKlCAl,    INDISTKY     OF    lAMFOUNIA. 

"No  prt-miums  :ir<'  allowed  on  fluorspai'  shipments,  hut  there  is  a  penalty  for 
inferior  material.  Trade  specifications  demand  that  for  each  point  of  calcium 
fluoride  less  than  85  per  cent  there  shall  be  deducted  l/85th  of  the  delivered  cost, 
and  for  each  point  of  silica  over  5  per  cent  there  shall  be  deducted  l/40th  of  the 
delivered  cost." 

Ac(or(liii<:  to  the  l'.  S.  Bureau  of  F^orcitrn  and  Domestic  C<»inineree, 
iiiijiorts  of  fluorspar  into  the  T'nited  States  in  1!>24  amounted  to 
•4.").r)74  lon^'  tons,  valued  at  $").")r).H42.  and  eame  principally  from 
En.<:land,  with  smaller  amounts  from  British  South  Africa,  Italy,  China, 
and  Netherlands.  Domestic  shipments  of  fluorspar,  according  to  the 
r.  S.  (leological  Survey,  totaled  124.979  short  tons,  valued  at  $2,451,131. 

In  California  deposits  have  been  reported  in  Los  Angeles.  Mono, 
Riverside  and  San  Bernardino  counties,  but  no  commercial  production 
has  resulted  except  in  IKlT-lOlM,  when  a  total  of  79  tons  valued  at 
$99.1  was  shipped  from  Riverside  County.     • 

In  1921.  at  the  King  ^line  under  development  near  Afton,  San 
Bernardino  County,  some  fluorspar  was  mined  but  not  shipped.  Field 
examinations  have  indicated  a  considerable  deposit  there  of  merchant- 
able spar. 

The  Tariff  Act  of  1922  places  a  duty  of  ^o.fiO  per  ton  on  foreign 
importations  of  fluorspar. 

Present  <|Uotations  (Engineering  and  Alining  Journal-Press,  New 
York)  are:  f.o.b.  ^Middle  Western  ^Nlines,  per  net  ton.  (xravel,  not  less 
than  857r  CaF,  and  not  over  5'r  SiO,.  $15-$18;  foundry  hump  $19--$21. 

FULLER'S   EARTH. 

Bibliography:  Reports  XIV,  XVII,  XVIII.  XXI.     Bulletins  38, 
91.    I^.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  Bulletin  71. 

Fuller's  earth  includes  many  kinds  of  unctuous  clays.  It  is  usually 
soft,  friable,  earthy,  nonpla.stic.  white  and  gray  to  dark  green  in  color, 
and  some  varieties  disintegrate  in  water.  In  California,  fuller's  earth 
has  been  used  in  clarifying  both  refined  mineral  and  vetretable  oils, 
and  for  special  chemical  purposes :  although  its  original  use  was  in 
fulling  wool,  as  the  name  indicates.  Production  has  come  mainly  from 
Calaveras  and  Solano  counties,  with  other  deposits  noted  also  in 
River.side.  Fresno.  Inyo,  and  Kern  counties. 

Clays  of  the  montmorillonite  and  halloysite  group  ('rock  soap')  are 
being  utilized  by  some  of  the  oil  refineries  in  lieu  of  true  fuller's  earth 
in  the  refining  of  petroleum  products. 

The  j)roduction  of  5.290  tons  valued  at  $67,295.  here  credited  to  1924 
as  'fuller's  earth'  is  in  reality  collodial,clay  of  the  montmoi-illonite 
class  (sold  under  such  local  names  as  "bentonite.'  'otaylite,'  'shoshonite. ' 
derived  from  the  locality  where  found).  Because  of  its  being  utilized  for 
clarifying,  filtering,  and  cleanser  purposes,  most  of  it  in  petroleum  refin- 
ing, we  have  placed  it  for  the  purposes  of  this  statistical  report,  under 
the  'fuller's  earth"  heading.  After  all.  the  practical  test  of  a  fuller's 
earth  is  not  so  much  chemical,  as  a  practical  physical  one:  that  is  its 
I)hysical  capacity  to  absorb  basic  colors  and  to  remove  these  colors  from 
solution  in  animal,  vegetable,  or  mineral  oils.  als(»  from  water. 

The  1924  output  above  noted  is  an  increase  both  in  tonnage  and  value 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAFj    PROnUCTION. 


101 


over  the  3650  tons  and  $55,125  eredited  to  the  year  1923,  and  came 
from  f'onr  properties,  in  Inyo,  San  l^ernardino,  and  San  Die.uo  counties. 

Fuller's   Earth   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Fuller's  earth  was  first  produced  commercially  in  this  state  in  1899, 
and  the  total  amount  and  value  of  the  output  since  that  time  are  as 
follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1899 

620 
500 

1,000 
987 
250 
500 

1,344 
440 
100 
50 
459 
340 
466 
876 

$12,400 

3,750 

19,500 

19,246 

4,750 

9,500 

38,000 

10,500 

1,000 

1,000 

7,385 

3,820 

5,294 

6,500 

1913 

1914 

460 

760 

692 

110 

220 

37 

385 

600 

1,185 

6,606 

3,650 

5,290 

$3,700 

1900 

5,928 

1901.. 

1915 

1916...    .      .    ... 

4,002 

1902   -   . 

550 

1903 . 

1917 

1918. 

1919 

1920 

1921 -.    ..    .. 

2,180 

1904 

333 

1905 

3,810 

1906. 

6,000 

1907.. 

8,295 

1908...     

1922...    .      

48,756 

1909 

1923 

55.125 

1910  . 

1924 

67,295 

Totals 

1912 

27,927 

$348,619 

Note. — Above  production  since  1921  has  been  montmorillonite  (hydrous  aluminum 
silicate)  a  colloidal  clay,  sometimes  called  'rock  soao,'  and  in  part  locally  called 
'shoshonite'  from  its  beine  found  near  Shoshone  in  Inyo  County ;  and  in  part 
'otaylite'   from   Otay,    San    Diego   County. 


GEMS. 

Bibliography:  State  ^Mineralogist  Reports  II,  XIV,  XV.  XVII, 
XVIII,  XX,  XXI.  Bulletins  87,  67,  91.  U.  S.  (1.  S.,  ':\Iineral 
Resources  of  the  U.  S. ' ;  Bull.  603,  p.  208'.  Bull.  Dept.  Geol.  Univ. 
of  Cal.,  Vol.  5,  pp.  149-153,  331-380.  Am.  Jour.  Sci.,  Vol.  31, 
p.  31. 

The  production  of  gem  materials  in  California  has  ])een  somewhat 
irregular  and  uncertain  since  1911.  The  compilation  of  complete 
statistics  is  dififieult  owing  to  the  widely  scattered  places  at  which  stones 
are  gathered  and  marketed  for  the  most  part  in  a  small  way.  The 
materials  reported  in  1924  totaled  .$4,800  in  value,  compared  with 
.*t;13,220  in  1923;  the  decrease  being  due  mainly  to  less  activity  in  the 
tourmaline  district  of  San  Diego  County. 

The  following  table  shows  the  distril)utioii  of  rough,  uncut  gem  and 
jeweler's  materials  during  1924: 


County 

Value 

Kind 

Butte                                     .   . 

$225 
1,925 

i     •2,65o| 

J                I 

Diamond,  topaz,  sapphire. 

San  Diego    .          

Kunzito.  tourmaline,  spcssartitc  and  pyrope  garnet-s.  hyacinth,  pink  and 

Calaveras . 

aquamarine  beryl,  quartz. 
Quartz  crystals. 

Imperial 

Dumortierite. 
Jasper. 

Total  V 

$4,800 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


102  MIXERAI.    IXDrSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Varieties  of  California's  Gem  Stones. 

Diamonds  have  been  found  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California; 
but  in  everj'  case,  they  have  been  obtained  in  stream  gravels  while 
working  them  for  gold.  The  principal  districts  have  been :  Volcano  in 
Amador  County;  Placerville,  Smith's  Flat  and  others  in  El  Dorado 
County;  French  Corral,  Nevada  County;  Cherokee  Flat,  Morris  Ravine, 
and  Yankee  Hill,  Butte  County ;  Gopher  Hill  and  upper  Spanish  Creek, 
Plumas  County.  The  most  productive  district  of  recent  years  has  been 
Cherokee  in  Butte  County. 

California  tourmalines  are  decidedly  distinctive  in  coloring  and  'fire' 
as  compared  to  foreign  stones  of  this  classification.  The  colors  range 
from  deep  ruby  to  pink,  and  various  shades  of  green ;  also  a  blue 
tourmaline  has  been  found. 

One  of  our  California  gem  .stones,  benitoite.  has  not  been  found  else- 
where ;  and  in  but  a  single  locality  here :  The  Dallas  Mine  in  San  Benito 
County. 

Kumite,  a  gem  variety  of  spodumene.  was  first  found  in  the  Pala 
district  in  San  Diego  County.  It  has  thus  far  been  found  in  only  one 
locality  f^Iadagascar)  outside  of  California.  It  is  of  a  lilac  color,  and 
is  described  in  detail  in  Bulletin  37  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau. 

Beryls  of  excellent  fire  and  delicate  colors  are  also  obtained  in  the 
Pala  district,  of  which  the  aquamarine  (blue)  and  morganite  (pink) 
varieties  deserve  special  mention.  Morganite,  like  kunzite,  has  thus 
far  been  found  elsewhere  only  in  Madagascar. 

Californiie,  or  "California  jade,'  is  a  gem  variety  of  vesuvianite,  and 
is  green  or  white  in  color.  It  is  found  in  Butte,  Fresno,  and  Siskiyou 
counties. 

Stones  of  precious  blue  fojmz  of  fine  quality  are  now  being  cut  from 
crystals  being  mined  in  northern  San  Diego  County.  They  are  associa- 
ted with  beryl  and  blue  tourmaline. 

Some  rhodonite  has  been  mined  in  Siskiyou  County,  and  used  for 
decorative  purposes,  its  value  being  included  in  the  marble  figures. 

Chrysoprase  has  been  produced  in  Tulare  County. 

Turquoise  has  been  found  in  the  desert  section  of  San  Bernardino 
County,  but  none  produced  commercially  in  recent  years. 

Sapphires  have  been  reported  recently  found  in  San  Bernardino  and 
Riverside  counties,  but  not  as  yet  confirmed.  A  few  have  been  found 
in  stream  gravels  with  diamonds  in  Butte  County. 

Rubies  have  been  identified  by  the  laboratory  of  the  State  Mining 
Bureau,  occurring  in  limestone  from  the  Baldy  Mountains,  San 
Bernardino  County.  Thus  far  no  stones  of  commercial  size  have  been 
taken  out. 


I 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


103 


Total    Production    of    Gem    Materials    in    California. 

Tlie  value  of  the  gem  output  in  California  annually  since  the  begin- 
ning of  commercial  production  is  as  follows : 


Year 

Value 

Year 

Value 

1900 

$20,500 

40,000 

162,100 

110,500 

136,000 

148,500 

497,090 

232,642 

208,950 

193,700 

237.475 

51,824 

23,050 

1913             

|13,740 

1901 

1914 -.  .  

3,970 

1902 

1915      .       

3,565 

1903 

1916...  ... 

4,752 

1904 

1917 

3,049 

1905 -. --  

1918 ..  

650 

1906 

1919 ..  .  .. . 

5,425 

1907 

1920          

36,056 

1908 

1921 

10,954 

1909 

1922 . 

1.312 

1910 

1923 

13,220 

1911-.            -        .  . 

1924   

4,800 

1912 -- 

$2,163,824 

GRAPHITE. 

Bihliographij:  State  :\Iineralogist  Reports  XIII.  XIV,  XY,  XVII. 
Bulletins  67,  91.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Mm.  Res.,  1914,  Pt.  11. 

(rrai)hite  has  been  i)r()du('(Hl  from  time  to  time  in  the  state,  coming 
principally  from  Sonoma  and  Los  Angeh's  counties.  It  is  difficult  for 
lliese  dei)osits.  wiiicli  must  be  concentrated,  to  compete  with  foreign 
su[)plieH.  wliich  go  on  the  market  almost  directly  as  they  come  from  the 
deposit.  (Jraphite  ores  are  concentrated  with  considerable  difficulty, 
and  the  electric  process  of  manufacturing  artitieial  graphite  from  coal 
has  l)een  perfected  to  such  a  degree  that  only  deposits  of  natural 
graphite  of  a  superior  quality  can  be  exploited  with  any  certainty  of 
success. 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  operators  in  this  counti'A' 
who  are  working  disseminated  flake  deposits  must  depend  on  their  No.  1 
and  2  flake  for  their  i)rofit.  (Iraphite  dust  is  merely  a  by-product  and 
is  salable  only  at  a  low  price.  Improved  methods  of  graphite  milling 
adopted  promise  to  increase  largely  the  production  of  flake  of  better 
grade. 

The  principal  value  of  graphite  is  on  account  of  its  infusibility  and 
resistance  to  the  action  of  molten  metals.  It  is  also  largely  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  of  'lead'  pencils,  as  a  lubrieant, 
as  stove  polish,  paints,  and  in  many  otlier  Avays.  Amorphous  graphite, 
commonly  carrying  many  imi)urities.  l)rings  a  much  lower  price.  For 
some  purposes,  such  as  foundry  facings,  etc.,  the  low-grade  material  is 
satisfactory.  Among  the  interesting  uses  for  graphite  is  the  prevention 
of  formation  of  scale  in  boilers.  The  action  is  a  mechanical  one. 
being  soft  and  slippery,  the  graphite  prevents  the  particles  of  scale 


104  MIXERAL    IXDl'STRY    OF    fALIFORNIA. 

from  jullnTinjr  t<»  one  iiiiotlKT  or  to  tlic  holier  and  they  are  thus 
easily  rciiiovfd. 

The  piiee  increases  with  the  j^ratle  of  material,  the  hest  c|uality 
erystalline  variety  heinir  (juoted  at  present  (f.o.l).  New  York)  at  S^(^-U^ 
per  pound  (Ceylon  lumps). 

The  coarser  flakes  are  necessary  for  crucihles,  as  they  help  to  l)iiul  the 
elay  together  in  addition  to  their  refraetory  service.  Imports  in  V.)2A 
from  Ceylon.  Canada,  Madajrascar,  Mexico  and  Korea,  totaled  Ki.iiSd 
short  tons  valued  at  .t^IM),")!!  compared  with  19. SIT  tons  valued  at 
*(J()(J,8:iH  in  1928. 

Occurrence  of  graphite  has  been  reported  at  vai-ious  times  from 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Inii)eri;d,  Tjos  Angeles.  IMendocino.  San  Bernardino, 
San  Diego.  Siskiyou.  Sonoma  and  Tuolumne  counties. 

During  1923-1924  there  was  no  commercial  output  of  graphite  in 
California.  For  several  years  past,  a  single  plant  in  Los  Angeles 
County  has  been  concentrating  graphite  from  a  disseminated  ore,  the 
product  heiiig  used  for  paint  and  for  foundry  facing. 

Graphite    Production   of  California,   by   Years. 

According  to  the  records  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  the  graphite 
production  of  California,  by  years,  has  been  as  follows: 

Tear  Ponnda  Value 

1901    128,000  R480 

1902   84,000  1,680 

1903    

1913   2,500  25 

1914    

1915    

1916   29.190  2,335 

1917    

1918    

1919  --. 

1920   

1^   J         *624,000  26,160 

1923  — .-- 

Totals 1.637,690  $71.9r)5 

•Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned,'  on  account  of  a  single  producer. 

GYPSUM. 

Bihllographu:  Reports  XIV.  XV.  XVIT.  XVIII.  XXI.     Bulletin^ 
38.  67.  91.    r.  S.  Ceol.  Surv..  Bull.  223.  413.  430.  697. 

During  1924.  one  operator  each  in  Imperial.  Riverside,  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  produced  a  total  of  2r>,.')69  tons  of  gypsum  valued 
at  $53,210  compared  with  H6.410  tons  worth  $188,336  in  1923.  Th- 
material  was  utilized  mainly  in  cement  manufacture  as  a  retardani 
for  hard-wall  plaster,  and  for  fertilizer.  The  considerable  drop  from 
the  record  figure  of  1923  was  due  to  smaller  shipments  from  both 
Imi)erial  and  San  Bernardino  counties.  The  property  of  the  Imperial 
Gyp.^-um  and  Oil  Company  in  western  Imperial  Count>-  has  l)een  taken 
over  l»y  the  Pacifii-  Portland  Cement  Co..  Consolidated,  and  there  i^ 
promise  for  a  considerable  increase  in  output  for  the  coming  year. 


^770,000  37,225 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODrCTION. 


105 


Uses. 

The  most  iniportaut  use  of  gypsum  from  the  quantity  standpoint 
is  in  the  calcined  form  where  it  is  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of 
various  hard-wall  plasters  and  plaster  board.  As  plaster  of  paris,  it 
plays  a  very  important  part  in  surgical  work.  Approximately  2% 
of  raw  uypsum  is  added  in  the  manufacture  of  Portland  cement  just 
before  the  final  grinding.  In  this  application,  the  gypsum  acts  as  a 
retarder  to  the  set  of  the  cement.  The  use  of  gypsum  tile  for  non- 
bearing  fireproof  partitions,  stairway  and  elevator  enclosures,  and  the 
protection  of  steel  columns,  girders  and  beams,  has  increased  greatly. 

Land  plaster  may  be  applied  to  the  soil  by  drilling,  or  scattered  in 
the  hill,  or  it  may  be  sowed  broadcast,  in  cjuantities  ranging  from  200 
to  500  pounds  to  the  acre. 

Total    Production  of  Gypsum    in   California. 

Production  of  gypsum  annually  in  California  since  such  records  have 
been  compiled  by  this  Bureau  is  as  follows : 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1887 . 

2,700 
2,500 
3,000 
3,000 
2,000 
2,000 
1,620 
2,446 
5,158 
1,310 
2,200 
3,100 
3,663 
2,522 
3,875 
10,200 
6,914 
8,350 
12,859 
21,000 

$27,000 
25,000 
30,000 
30,000 
20,000 
20,000 

■14,280 
24,584 
51,014 
12,580 
19,250 
23,600 
14,950 
10,088 
38,750 
53,500 
46,441 
56,592 
54,500 
69,000 

1907  .    .  .   

8,900 
34,600 
30,700 
45,294 
31,457 
37.529 
47.100 
29.734 
20,200 
33,384 
30,825 
19,695 
19.813 
20.507 
37.412 
47.084 
86,410 
25,569 

$57,700 

1888 .   

1908...  .  ..   

155,400 

1889 - 

1909 

1910 .  . 

138,176 

1890 

129,152 

1891 

1911 

101,475 

1892..  -  . 

1912... 

117,388 

1893 

1913 _ 

135,050 

1894 

1914..   

78,375 

1895- .. 

1915 

48,953 

1896.- 

1916  .  ... .. 

59,533 

1897. 

1917 

56.840 

1898 

1918...   .  ..  .  

37.176 

1899..  . 

1919 

50,579 

1900 

1920... 

92,535 

1901 

1921 

78,875 

1902 . 

1922 

188,336 

1903. 

1923.   ... 

289,136 

1904.. 

1924 

53,210 

1905 

Totals .  . 

1906  ... 

706,621 

$2,509,018 

INFUSORIAL  and    Dl ATOMACEOUS   EARTH. 

BihIioqiapJii/:  State  MineraloL'ist  Reports  II,  XII-XVI  (inc.), 
XV,  XVil-XIX  (inc.)  Bulletins  38,  67,  91.  Am.  In.st.  :\lin. 
Eng.,  Bull.  104,  August,  1915,  pp.  1539-1550.  V.  S.  Bur.  of 
Mines,  Hep.  of  Investigations:  Serial  No.  2431,  Jan.,  1923.  Entj;. 
&  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  1152-1154,  June  30,  1923. 

Infusorial  and  diatomaceous  earth.s — sometimes  called  tripolite — are 
very  light  and  extremely  porous,  chalk-like  materials  composed  of  pure 
silica  (chalk,  being  calcareous)  which  have  been  laid  down  under  water 
and  consist  of  the  remains  of  microscopical  infusoria  and  diatoms. 
The  former  are  animal  remains,  and  the  latter  are  from  plants.  The 
principal  commercial  use  of  this  material  is  as  an  absorbent.  It  is  also 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  scouring  soap  and  poli.shing  powders; 
for  filtration  i>urposes;  in  making  some  classes  of  refractory  brick;  and 
as  an  insulating  medium  both  in   heating  and  refrigeration.     It  is  a 


10(^ 


.MINKUAL    INDIsrUV     I  >I      (  A  1,11  (H;. MA. 


tirst-class  nonc()iuliu;t<)r  of  heat,  wiierc  hi^^li  temperatures  arc  employed, 
sueh  as  around  steel  and  ^as  plants  and  power  houses.  In  such  cases, 
it  is  built  in  as  an  insulatinj^  layer  in  furnace  walls.  In  Germany, 
under  the  name  'kieselguhr, '  it  was  used  as  an  absorbent  for  nitro- 
glycerine in  the  early  manufacture  of  dynamite. 

As  a  nonconductor  of  heat  it  has  been  used  alone  or  with  other  mate- 
rials as  a  covering  for  boilers,  steam  pipes,  and  safes  and  in  fireproof 
cements.  It  is  used  largely  by  paint  manufacturers  as  a  wood  filler. 
Boiled  with  shellac  it  is  made  into  records  for  talking  machines.  It  has 
been  used  for  absorbing  liquid  manures  so  that  they  could  be  utilized 
as  fertilizers,  and  as  a  source  of  silica  in  making  water-gla.ss  as  well  as 
in  the  manufacture  of  cement,  tile  glazing,  artificial  stone,  ultramarine 
and  other  pigments  of  aniline  and  alizarine  colors,  paper  filling,  sealing 
wax,  fireworks,  hard-rubber  objects,  matches,  and  papier  mache,  and 
for  solidifying  bromide.  For  making  insulating  brick  the  material  is 
sawed  into  blocks,  and  for  all  other  purposes  it  is  ground  and 
screened. 

The  most  important  deposits  in  California  thus  far  known  are  located 
in  Montere3\  Orange.  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 
The  Santa  Barbara  material  is  diatomaceous  and  is  of  a  superior 
quality,  particularly  for  filtration  uses  which  bring  the  higher  prices. 
Infusorial  or  diatomaceous  eartiis  are  also  found  in  Fresno.  Kern. 
Los  Angeles.  Plumas,  San  Benito,  San  Bernardino.  San  Joaquin. 
Shasta.  Sonoma,  and  Tehama  counties. 

As  practically  90%  of  the  output  in  California  is  from  a  single 
operator,  we  have  concealed  the  exact  figures  under  the  'Unappor- 
tioned'  item  in  the  state  and  county  totals.  There  were  seven  operators 
in  1924  in  Los  Angeles.  ^lonterey,  Santa  Barbara,  and  Shasta  counties. 

The  material  shipped  was  utilized  for  insulation,  filtration,  paint 
pigment,  and  for  clarification  of  gasoline  and  kerosene. 

Total    Production    of    Diatomaceous    Earth    in    California. 

The  first  recorded  production  of  the.se  materials  in  California 
occurred  in  18S9 ;  total  amount  and  value  of  output,  to  date,  are  as 
follows : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Tear 


Value 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 


39 


422 
2,703 
6,950 
3,000 
2.430 
2.531 


$1,335 


50           2.000 

51           2,040 

5             200 

2.532 
16,015 
112.282 
15.000 
14.400 
•.'s.n48 


1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

'1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1 1921 

11922 

1 1923 

\'.<2A. 


Totals. 


2,950 

$32.01-2 

500 

3,500 

1,&43 

17.617 

2,194 

19.670 

4,129 

17.074 

8,615 

3.5,968J 

12.840 

80.35a 

12.400 

62.000' 

15.?22 

80.649 

24.301 

127,510 

35.963 

189,459 

40,200 

217,800 

60,764 

1.066.260 

♦90.739 

* 

1.016.675 

• 

i 

330.971 

$;3.151.296 

•Annual  details  concealed  under  'Unapportioned.' 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


107 


LIMESTONE. 

Bibliograplni :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII-XXI  (ine.j.  Bulletins  38',  91.  Oregon  Agr.  College, 
Extension  Bulletin  305.  Eng.  and  Min.  Joiir.-Press,  Vol.  120, 
pp.  249-253. 

'Industrial'  limestone  was  produced  in  twelve  counties  during  1924, 
to  the  amount  of  219,476  tons,  valued  at  $582,660,  being  an  increase 
both  in  quantity  and  value  over  the  1923  output  of  143,266  tons,  worth 
$348,464. 

The  amount  here  given  does  not  include  the  limestone  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  cement  nor  for  macadam  and  concrete,  nor  of  lime 
for  building  purposes ;  but  accounts  for  that  utilized  as  a  smelter  and 
foundry  flux,  for  glass  and  sugar  making,  and  other  special  chemical 
and  manufacturing  processes.  It  also  includes  that  utilized  for  fer- 
tilizers (agricultural  'lime'),  'rooting  gravel,'  paint  and  concrete  filler, 
whiting  for  paint,  putty,  kalsomine,  terrazzo,  paving  dust,  chicken  grit, 
carbon  dioxide  gas,  'paving  compound,'  facing  dust  for  concrete  pipe, 
also  for  rubber  and  magnesite  mix.  That  indicated  in  the  table  below 
as  coming  from  Santa  Clara  and  Los  Angeles  counties  is  calcareous 
marl  sold  for  agricultural  purposes.  Of  the  total  product  in  1924 
approximately  24,000  tons  valued  at  $85.0(X)  was  used  for  agricultural 
purposes. 

Distribution  of  the  1924  output  was  as  follows: 


County 
El  Dorado 

Tons 

112,156 

14,375 

28,097 

8,515 

56.333 

Value 
$322,995 

45,137 

Shasta 

36, ISO 

19,983 

Contra  Costa,  Inyo, 
'     Siskij'ou     Tulare, 

Los  Angeles,  Santa  Clara,  Santa  Cruz, 
\'entura* 

158.065 

Totals    

'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


219,476 


$582,660 


Limestone    Production    of   California,   by   Years. 

The  following  tabulation  gives  the  amounts  and  value  of  'industrial' 
limestone  produced  in  California  by  years  since  1894  when  compilation 
of  such  records  was  begun  by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau.  These  ton- 
nages consist  principally  of  limestone  utilized  for  flux,  glass  and  sugar 
making,  agricultural,  chemical,  and  other  special  industrial  purposes. 
That  utilized  in  cement  manufacture  is  not  included. 


|t               Y«, 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1894 

15,420 

$19,275 

71.690 

71.112 

38.556 

24.548 

29.185 

31.532 

99.445 

90.524 

163,988 

87.207 

323.325 

162,827 

406,041 

297.264 

419.921 

1910 

684.635 
516.398 

$581,208 

1895 

71.355 

1911 

4.52.790 

1896 68.184 

1912... 

613.375                .-.70.248 

1897 .36,796 

1898... 27,686 

1899. 30,769 

1913 

1914 

1915 

301,918 
572.272 
146.324 
187.521 
237.279 
208,566 
88,291 

274,455 
517.713 
156.288 

1900 j        32,791 

1916  - 

217,733 

1901... 76.937 

1917 

356.396 

1902 

71,422 
125.919 

40.207 
192.749 

80.262 
230.985 
273.890 
337.676 

1918 

1919  -   . 

456. 25S 

1903 

248,145 

1904 

1920 

1921 

90,120 
75,921 

298,197 

1905 

305,912 

1906 

1922 

84,382 
143.266 
219.476 

282,181 

1907 

1923. 

1924 

Totals. 

348.464 

1908 

582,660 

1909 

5,882,792 

$7,985,088 

108 


MINERAI.    IXHrSTKV    OK    CAMrOKXIA. 


LITHIA. 

Bihlioifrdplnj:  State  Miiicnilouist  K'l'jxtits  II,  1\'.  XIV.  XXI.     liiil- 
It'tins  :{.S,  ()7,  91. 

Lithia  niiea,  lepidolite  (a  silicate  of  lithium  ct  al.)  utilized  in  tl:e 
manufacture  of  artifit-ial  mineral  water,  fireworks,  t>rlass,  etc.  has  l)een 
minctl  in  San  Die^ro  County  since  1899,  except  between  1905  and  191."). 
Some  amblyjronite.  a  lithium  phosphate,  is  occasionally  also  obtained 
from  pockets  associateil  witli  the  <icm  tourmalines.  In  1924  a  total  of 
109  tons  valued  at  $2,269  was  shipped,  in  whicli  was  included  a  small 
tonnage  of  amblygonite.  The  lepidolite  was  utilized  in  glass  manu- 
facture. 

Lithia  mica  total  production  in  the  state  has  been  as  follows: 


Year 


Tool 


Valae 


Yesr 


Tom 


Value 


1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1915 
1916 


124 
440 
1,100 
822 
700 
641 
25 


$4,600  I  1917 

11,000  :  1918 

27,500  j  1919 

31,880  1920 

27,300  I  1921 

25,000  1922 

276  1923 

I,  Ut24_ 


4.111 

800 

10,046 

*1,365 


$.S.8O0 

73,998 

14,400 

153,502 

20,781 


109 


2,269 


91 
71 


l.OtjJ 


Totals. 


21.325       $403,736 


'Annual  details  concealed  under  'UnappoTtioned.' 


MICA. 


Bibliographij :  State  :\Iineralo2:ist  Reports  II,  IV.  Bulletins  38,  67, 
91.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  740;  Min.  Res.  of  U.  S.  Eng.  & 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  55-60,  Jan.  13,  1923. 

No  commercial  production  of  mica  has  recently  been  reported  in 
California.     Production  in  previous  years  has  been  as  follows: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

1902 

50 
50 
50 

$2,500 

1903                 

3.800 

1904     -                  --    -                                                     -      _             _ 

3.000 

Totals 

150 

$9,300 

Classification  and    Uses. 

Practically  all  marketable  mica  is  of  the  muscovite  or  phlogopite 
varieties.  There  are  three  main  commercial  classes :  Sheet  mica,  includ- 
ing punch ;  splittings,  and  scrap.  Sheet  mica  is  used  chiefly  for 
electrical  purposes  and  for  glazing;  splittings  are  made  into  built-up 
mica;  scrap  is  ground  to  a  powder.  Mica  to  be  classified  as  sheet  must 
yield  a  rectangle  of  at  least  1|  x  2  in.,  must  split  evenly  and  freely, 
be  free  from  cracks,  rulings,  or  plications,  and  reasonably  free  from 
inclusions  of  foreign  matter,  though  stains  of  a  nonconducting  character 
are  permissible  for  some  uses.  Ability  to  withstand  heat  and  high 
electrical  resi-stance  have  led  to  a  wide  application  of  sheet  mica  in 
the  electrical  industries.  The  electrical  uses  of  sheet  mica  greatly 
exceed  all  others  in  quantity  and  value  of  the  material  used. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


109 


As  a  heat-resisting  transparent  medium,  sheet  mica  has  various  uses. 
It  is  widely  employed  for  stove  windows,  though  this  use  has  declined 
to  a  considerable  extent.  A  hard  and  rigid  mica  that  is  nearly  clear 
is  best  suited  for  stove  fronts.  High-grade  stove  mica  commands  a 
higher  price  than  electrical  mica,  because  for  the  most  part  larger 
sizes  are  demanded.  Mica  is  also  used  in  furnace  and  bake-oven  sight- 
holes,  heat  screens,  lamp  chimneys,  canopies  and  shades,  particularly 
for  gas  mantles,  and  also  for  military  lanterns  and  in  lantern  slides. 

Its  ability  to  withstand  shocks  and  strains,  combined  with  its  trans- 
parency, has  led  to  wide  use  in  motor  goggles,  spectacles,  diver's 
helmets,  smoke  helmets,  compass  cards,  gage  fronts,  and  in  windows 
sub,iect  to  shock,  as  in  the  conning  towers  of  warships.  On  account 
of  its  heat-resisting  qualities,  ground  mica  is  used  in  railroad  car  axle 
packings,  in  pipe  and  boiler  coverings,  in  fire-proof  paints,  and  in 
rubber  tires.  Ground  mica  is  used  as  a  component  in  roofing,  as  a 
filler  in  rubber  and  other  products,  in  calico  printing,  and  as  a  tire 
powder.  It  is  used  also  in  tinsel  decorations,  and  as  'Santa  Glaus  snow' 
for  Ghristmas  tree  and  window  decorations.  It  is  used  as  a  lubricant 
for  wooden  bearings,  and  mixed  with  oil  for  metal  bearings. 


MINERAL   PAINT. 

BihliograpJiif:  State  ^lineralogist  Reports  XII-XIX  (inc.) 
Bulletins  38,  91. 


XXI. 


I  ^Mineral  paint  materials  were  produced  in  Galifornia  in  1924  from  a 
total  of  three  properties  in  Placer  and  Stanislaus  counties,  amounting 
jto  532  tons  valued  at  $5,23-l.  This  is  a  decrease  from  the  1,049  tons  and 
!$11.773  of  1923.  The  material  shipped  from  Placer  Gounty  is  hematite, 
land  that  from  Stanislaus,  yellow  ochre.  Red  ochre  has  been  shipped 
[from  Sonoma  and  Ventura  counties,  in  former  years. 

! Mineral    Paint   Production   of  California,  by  Years. 

i  The  fir.st  recorded  production  of  mineral  paint  materials  in  the  state 
jwas  in  the  year  1890.  The  output,  showing  annual  amount  and  value, 
'since  that  time,  is  given  herewith : 


Year 


I 

1 1890 
11891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
189.-, 
;1896 
;i897 
a898 
1899 
11900 
1901 
1902 
11903 
il904 
1905 
1906 
■1907 


Tons 


40 
22 
25 
590 
610 
750 
395 
578 
653 

1.704 
529 
325 
589 

2.370 
270 
754 
250 
250 


Value 


$480 

880 

750 

26,795 

14,140 

8,425 

5,540 

8,165 

9,698 

20,294 

3,993 

875 

1,533 

3,720 

1,985 

4,025 

1.720 

1,720 


Year 


1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916. 

1917 

1918 

1919. 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1924 

Totals 


Tons 


335 
305 
200 
186 
300 
303 
132 
311 
643 
520 
728 
1,780 
779 
446 
1.620 
1,049 
532 


20,273 


Value 


$2,250 
2,325 
2,040 
1,184 
1.800 
1,780 
847 
1.756 
3,960 
2,700 
4,738 

17.055 
8,477 
4,748 

13.277 

11.773 
.^>.234 


$193,882 


no 


MINERAL    IXnrSTKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


MINERAL   WATER. 

Hihliofiniphjj:  Statf  .MiiitTalo^Mst  Iu'|t(»rts  VI,  Xll-X\'lll  (inc.). 
XXI.  r.  S.  a.  S..  Wator  Sui)|)ly  Paper  :«S.  Min.  Res.  1!>14 
lMl»i.  '.Mineral  Sprinirs  and  Ilcalth  Re.sort.s  of  California,'  )•> 
Dr.  Win.slo\v  Anderson.  1S!)().  C.  S.  Dept.  of  Airr.,  Bur.  d 
CIkmil.  Hnlletin  !tl. 


A  \videspread  prodnction  of  mineral  water  i.s  shown  annually  in; 
California.  These  figures  refer  to  mineral  water  aetually  bottled  for, 
sale,  or  for  loral  consumption.  Wat^'r  from  some  of  the  sprinfjrs  havin 
a  special  medicinal  value  brings  a  price  many  times  higher  than  th 
averajge  shown,  while  in  some  cases  the  water  is  used  merely  for  drink- 
ing purposes  and  sells  for  a  nominal  figure.  Health  and  pleasure 
resorts  are  located  at  many  of  the  springs.  The  waters  of  some  of  the 
hot  springs  are  not  suitable  ff)r  drinking,  but  are  very  efficacious  for 
bathing. 

From  a  therapeutic  standpoint,  California  is  particularly  rich  in 
mineral  springs.  The  counterparts  of  many  of  the  world-famed  spas 
of  Europe  and  the  eastern  I'nited  States  can  l>e  found  here.  Radio- 
activity has  been  noted  in  at  lea.st  two  localities  in  California:  At  Tiif 
Gey.sers  in  Sonoma  County,  and  Arrowhead  Hot  Springs  in  San  Ber- 
nardino County.  It  doubtless  exists  at  others,  but  the  State  MiniuL' 
Bureau  has  not  as  yet  had  funds  available  to  conduct  the  necessary 
investigations  along  this  line. 

Commercial  production  of  mineral  water  in  California  for  1924 
amounted  to  a  total  of  8.159,211  gallons  valued  at  $818,726,  being  an 
increase  both  in  quantity  and  value  over  the  high-record  figures  of  1923. 
The  1924  output  was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows : 

Mineral  Water  Production,  by  Counties,  1924. 


County 

GaUoDS 

Value 

Butte                                                               .  

6.000 

1,400 

66.420 

1,889.285 

73.608 

78.560 

107,097 

300,500 

31.003 

5.605,338 

(4.500 

139 

TaWp                                                                                                                           

59.423 

88.942 

53,391 

23.021 

8.642 

6.100 

8.002 

Colusa,  Contra  Costa.  Humboldt,  Marin,  .Monterey.  Hacer.  San  Benito,  San  BerDardino. 

566.566 

Totals                                                                                        

8.159,211 

$818,720 

*Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


The  production  above  tabulated  was  in  part  bottled  with  artificial 
carbonatiou,  in  part  natural  and  a  large  part  was  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  soft  drinks  with  flavors. 

Although  some  of  the  operators  comi)lain  that  prohibition  has  all 
but  killed  off  the  mineral  water  business,  the  reports  of  actual  produc- 
tion of  mineral  water  bottled  and  sold  indicate  an  encouraging  growth 
and  a  material  increase  annually  both  in  total  quantity  and  value,  a> 
mav  be  noted  from  the  tabulation  below. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


Ill 


Mineral   Water  Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

.Mi)ieral  wattT  was  bottled  for  sale,  at  the  Napa  Soda  Springs,  Napa 
County,  as  early  as  I860,  and  at  other  .springs  in  California,  notably 
The  Ceysers,  Sonoma  County,  also  at  early  dates;  but  there  are  no 
figures  available  earlier  than  the  year  1887.  Amounts  and  values, 
annually,  since  that  year  are  shown  herewith : 


Year 

Gallons      i       Value 

Year                     Gallons             Value 

1887 

1888 

1889 

618.162         $144,368 

1,112,202           252,990 

808,625           252,241 

258,722            89.786 

334.553           139,959 

331,875           162.019 

383,179            90,667 

402,275           184,481 

701.397           291,500 

808,843           337,434 

1,508,192           345,863 

1,429,809           213,817 

1,338,537           406,691 

2,456,115           268,607 

1,555,328           559,057 

1,701,142           612,477 

2,056,340           558,201 

2.430,320           49€,946 

2,194,150           538,700 

1,585.690           478,18(3 

i907 

1908 

1909 . 

2.924.269           $r,44.01fi 
2,789,715            560,507 
2.449,834            465.488 

1890 

1891 

1910 

1911     

2,335.259            522,009 
2,637,669            590,654 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

iyj4 

Totals 

2,497.794             529,384 
2,350.792            599,748 
2.443,572            476,169 
2.274,267            467,738 
2,273,817            410,112 
1.942.020            340,566 
1,808,791             375,650 
2.233,842            340,117 
2,391,791             421,&43 
3.446.278             367,476 
4.276.346            486,424 
5,487.276             616.919 
8.1:i9.211               818.720 

1905 

1906 

78.737,999 

$15,.S.57,.33e 

PHOSPHATES. 


¥ 


Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Report  XXI.     Bulletins  67,  91. 


No  commercial  production  of  phosphates  has  been  recorded  from 
California,  though  occasional  pockets  of  the  lithium  phosphate, 
amblygonite,  Li  (AlF)  PO^,  have  been  found  as.sociated  with  the  gem 
tourmaline  deposits  in  San  Diego  County.  Such  production  has  been 
classified  under  lithia. 


PUMICE  and   VOLCANIC   ASH. 

liiblioqvapluj:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  Xfl,  XIV,  XV,  XVII. 
XVill.     Bulletin  38  (See  'Tufa'). 

The  production  of  pumice  and  volcanic  ash  for  the  year  1024 
amounted  to  49,19  tons  valued  at  $88,404  and  came  from  properties 
in  Imperial,  Inyo,  and  Kern  counties.  This  is  an  increase  both  in 
tonnage  and  value  over  the  1922  shipments.  The  material  from 
Imperial  County  is  of  the  vesicular,  ])lock  variety  and  was  sold  for 
abrasive  purposes;  that  from  Inyo  and  Kern  is  the  volcanic  a.sh.  or  tuft' 
variety,  and  was  employed   in  making  soap  and  cleanser  compounds. 

Commercial  production  of  pumice  in  California  was  first  reported  to 
the  State  ^Mining  Bureau  in  1909,  then  not  again  until  1912,  since  which 


112 


:mini:i<ai,   imh  sikv   oi    <  ami ounia. 


year  there  has  l>een  a  small  animal  output,  as  indicateij  by  the  t'oihiw 
iiiir  tahle: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

Year 

Tons 

Value 

1909- _  -  _. 

50 

$500 

1918  -.. __. 

2.114 

2.3S8 
1,537 
406 
613 
2.936 
4.919 

$28,669 

lyiO 

1919 

43,657 
25  890 

1911_      __. 

1920 

1912    -  _   -  - 

100 

3,590 

50 

380 
1,246 

525 

2.500 
4,500 
1.000 
6.400 
18,092 
5,295 

11921   _  . 

6  310 

1!)13   __   - 

1922 

4  ''48 

1914            . 

1923   

16  309 

iyi5 _ 

11924 

33  404 

1      Totals 

20.854 

1917 

1196.774 

! 

PYRITES. 

Bibliographi/:  State  ^lineralogist  Reports  XVIII,  XIX.     Bulletins 
38,  91.     :\Iiii.  and  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  114.  pp.  825,  840. 

A  total  pi-oduetion  of  124,214  short  tons  of  pyrites,  valued  at 
$517,835.  was  reported  shipped  in  California  durin.ir  li)24,  from  proper- 
ties operated  in  Alameda,  Maripo.sa.  and  Shasta  counties.  This  was  a 
deerea.se  both  in  tonnaire  and  value  from  the  tiirures  of  .14is",(>t)4  tons  and 
$555,308  in  1923.  The  material  was  mostly  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
sulphuric  acid  for  explosives  and  fertilizers.  ])ut  a  portion  was  utilized 
directly  in  the  preparation  of  a^'ricultural  fertilizer  and  insecticide. 
Tile  sulphur  content  rantred  up  to  46.9'y    S. 

This  does  not  include  the  large  quantities  of  pyrite,  chalcopyrite  and 
other  sulphides  which  are  otherwise  treated  for  their  valuable  metal 
contents.  Some  sulphuric  acid  is  annually  made  as  a  l)y-product  in 
the  course  of  roasting  certain  tonnages  of  Mother  Lode  auriferous 
concentrates  while  under  treatment  for  their  precious  metal  values. 

Pyrites   Production   in  California,  by  Years. 

The  total  recorded  pyrites  production  in  California  to  date  is  as 
follows : 


Tear 


1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
l!t07 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 


Tons 


G.OOO 

5.400 

3.642 

4.578 

17.525 

24.311 

15.043 

15.503 

46.689 

82.270 

107.081 

457.867 

42.621 

54.225 


Value 


$30,000 

28.620 

21.133 

18.429 

60.306 

94.000 

62.992 

63.958 

145.89.1 

251.774 

610.335 

1.389.S02 

179.862 

182.954 


Year 


1912__- 
1913  — 
1914__- 
1915__- 
1916__- 
1917-.- 
1918__- 
1919__. 
1920--- 
1921__- 
1922  — 
1923-_- 
1924__- 


Tons 


69, 

79, 

79 

92, 

120 

111 

128, 

147 

146 

110 

151 

148, 

124, 


872 
000 
,267 
,462 
,525 
,325 
,329 
,024 
,001 
,025 
,381 
,004 
,214 


Totals 2.390.184  $8,395,192 


Value 


$203,470 
218.537 
230.058 
293.148 
372.969 
323.704 
425.012 
540.300 
530.5S1 
473.735 
570.425 
555.308 
517.835 


I 


I 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  113 

SHALE   OIL. 

Biblioyraphij :  State  .Mineralogist  Kepuit  XiX.  l^  S.  Geol.  Surv., 
Bulletins  822,  729.  [J.  8.  Bnr.  of  Mines,  Bull.  210.  Eng-.  and 
Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  118,  No.  8.  pp.  290-292,  Aug-.  23,  1924. 
Chem.  &  Met.  Eng.,  Vol.  32,  No.  fi,  Feb.,  1925.  Min.  Congi-ess 
Jour.,  Dec,  1924. 

Oil  shale  is  defined  by  Gavin^  as  follows : 

"Oil  shale  is  a  compact,  laminated  rock  of  sedimentary  origin,  yielding  over  33  per 
cent  of  ash  and  containing  organic  matter  that  yields  oil  when  distilled,  but  not 
appreciably  when   extracted  with   the  ordinary   solvents  for   petroleum. 

"Oil  shales  contain  a  substance,  or  substajices,  usually  classed  as  a  pyro-bitumen, 
that  by  destructive  distillation,  or  pyrolysis,  yields  oils  somewhat  similar  to  petroleum. 
These  substances  have  been  termed  'kerogen,'  from  two  Greek  words  meaning  producer 
of  wax." 

The  Scottish  oil  shales  are  also  known  as  'torbanite.' 

The  so-called  'oil  shales'  of  California  do  not  for  the  most  part 
conform  to  the  above  definition,  as  the  greater  part  of  the  oil  obtained 
from  them  occurs  as  such  and  can  be  extracted  by  suitable  solvents. 
The  most  extensive  deposits  in  this  State  are  part  of  the  ]Monterey 
formation  of  Tertiary  age,  and  physically  and  chemically  are  different 
from  the  oil  shales  of  Scotland  and  from  other  oil  shales  in  the  United 
States.  The  mineral  matter  of  this  shale  is  diatomaceous ;  the  beds 
that  yield  oil  occur  in  massive  formation;  and  when  freshly  broken 
smell  strongly  of  petroleum.  Most  geologists  consider  the  Monterey 
shales  to  have  been  the  origin  of  the  oil  in  some  of  the  oil  fields  of 
California. 

Although  the  extraction  of  shale  oil  has  been  a  matter  of  commercial 
practice  on  a  considerable  scale  for  many  years  in  Scotland,  France, 
and  Australia,  it  has  not  attained  any  great  commercial  importance 
as  yet  in  the  United  States.  Technical  knowledge  of  the  subject, 
however,  is  increasing.  With  the  gradual  depletion  of  the  under- 
ground reserves  of  liquid  oil,  it  is  merely  a  matter  of  time  until  the 
development  of  the  oil  shales  of  the  United  States  will  be  an  economic 
necessity.  The  selling  price  of  petroleum  will  be  the  determining 
factor.  The  recovery  of  by-product  ammonium  sulphate  is  an  impor- 
tant feature  of  the  process. 

Two  plants  on  a  more  or  less  experimental  scale  have  been  in  opera- 
tion in  California  the  past  three  or  four  years,  with  commercial  produc- 
tion beginning  in  a  small  way  in  1922.  The  product,  in  part,  has  been 
sold  for  utilization  as  a  flotation  oil  in  metallurgical  work,  and  part 
has  been  consumed  as  fuel  at  the  plants.  Both  plants  report  output 
for  1924,  the  amount  and  value  being  concealed  under  the  'unappor- 
tioned'  item. 

SILICA    (Sand   and   Quartz). 

BihJIographij:  State  :\Iiiieraloo:ist  Repoi-ts  IX,  XIV,  XV  W'll. 
XVIII,  XX,  XXI.    Bulleti-ns  38,  67,  91. 

We  combine  these  materials  because  of  the  overlapping  roles  of  vein 
quartz  which  is  mined  for  use  in  glass  making  and  as  an  abrasive,  and 

'Gavin,  M.  J.,  Oil  shale,  an  historical,  technical,  and  economic  study  :  U.  S.  Bur.  of 
Mme.s,    Hull.    210,   p.   26,    1924. 

S— 41922 


114  MINERAL    IXDl'STHV    OF    CALIFORXIA. 

that  of  silica  .sand  wliich.  altliough  mainly  utilized  in  fjlass  inann- 
facture,  also  serves  as  an  abrasive.  Both  varieties  are  also  utilized  to 
some  extent  in  fire-brick  manufacture. 

A  portion  of  the  tonnage  of  vein  quartz  in  California  in  1916  and 
liJlT  was  employed  in  the  preparation  of  ferro-silieon  by  the  eleetrir 
furnace.  At  present,  some  is  utilized  as  a  foundry  flux,  and  for  steel - 
casting  moulds.  A  portion  of  the  silica  sold  (both  sand  and  quartz 
is  also  used  in  glazes  for  porcelain,  pottery  and  tile,  and  in  the  body 
of  the  ware  to  diminish  shrinkage;  and  some  of  the  sand  for  thr 
preparation  of  .sodium  silicate  (Svater  glass').  ^Manufacturers  of  paint 
use  tinely  ground  silica,  which  forms  as  much  as  one-third  of  the  total 
pigment  in  some  paints.  For  certain  purposes  finely-ground  crystallim' 
material  is  superior  in  paints  to  other  materials  because  of  the  auirn- 
larity  of  the  grains,  which  makes  them  adhere  more  firmly  to  the  articji- 
painted  and  after  wear  afford  a  good  surface  for  repainting.  Tin- 
same  angularity  makes  artificially  comminuted  crystalline  quartz  supe- 
rior to  natural  sand  for  use  in  wood  fillers.  It  is  also  preferable  for 
soaps  and  polishing  powders.  Part  of  the  1024  output  was  used  for 
roofing  and  stucco-dash  granules. 

We  do  not  include  under  this  heading  such  forms  of  silica  as : 
quartzite.  sandstone,  fiint,  tripoli,  diatomaceous  earth,  nor  the  gem 
forms  of  'rock  crystal,'  amethyst,  and  opal.  Each  of  these  has  various 
indu.strial  uses,  which  are  treated  under  their  own  designations. 

The  production  of  silica  in  California  in  1924  amounted  to  6,80> 
tons  valued  at  $35,006,  from  eight  properties  in  four  counties. 

Of  the  alx)ve  total  548  tons  was  of  sand,  and  6260  tons  of  vein 
and  boulder  quartz.  For  making  the  higher  grades  of  glass,  most  of 
the  sand  is  imported  from  Belgium.  There  are  various  deposits  of 
(juartz  in  California  which  could  be  utilized  for  glass  making,  but  to 
(late  they  have  not  been  so  used  owing  to  the  cost  of  grinding  and  the 
diificulty  of  preventing  contamination  by  iron  while  grinding. 

Silica  sand  has  been  produced  in  the  following  counties  of  the  state: 
Alameda,  Amador,  El  Dorado,  Los  Angeles,  ^Monterey.  Orange,  Placer. 
Riverside,  San  Diego,  San  Joaquin,  and  Tulare,  the  chief  centers  beinir 
Amador,  ]\Ionterey,  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  industry  is  of 
limited  importance,  so  far,  because  of  the  fact  that  much  of  the  available 
material  is  not  of  a  grade  which  will  produce  first-class  colorless  glass : 
for  such,  it  must  be  essentially  iron-free.  Even  a  fractional  per  cent 
of  iron  imparts  a  green  color  to  the  glass. 

Belgium  sand  is  also  displacing  locaLmaterial  in  the  manufacture  of 
sodium  silicate  ('water  glass'),  causing  the  clo.sing  down  of  operations 
in  1923  of  the  sand  plant  of  the  Philadelphia  Quartz  Company  in 
Amador  Count  v. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


115 


Total  Silica   Production   of  California. 


Total   silica   production    in    California   since   the    inception   of   the 
industry,  in  1899,  is  shown  below,  being  mainly  sand: 


Year 


Tons 


1899 3, 

1900 2. 

1901  5, 

1902 4, 

1903 7, 

1904  10, 

1905 9, 

1906 9. 

1907 11, 

1908 9, 

1909 12, 

1910 !  19, 

19ir i  8. 

1912 I  13, 


c-oo 

$3,500 

200 

2.200 

000 

16.250 

50C' 

12,225 

725 

7.525 

004 

12,276 

257 

8.121 

750 

13,375 

065 

8.178 

255 

22.045 

,259 

25,517 

,224 

18,265 

.620 

8,672 

.075  1 

15,404 

Year 


Tons 


Value 


1913 18,618  $iil,899 

1914 28,538  22,688 

1915 28,904  34,322 

1916 20,S80  48,908 

1917 19,376  41,166 

1918 23,257  88,930 

1919 18,659  101,600 

1920 25,324  96,793 

1921 10,569  49,179 

1922 9,874  31,016 

1923 7,964  30,420 

1924 0,808  35,001! 

Totals 343.705  $775,480 


SILLIMANITE   and   ANDALUSITE. 

Bibliograplnj:  State  ^Mineralogist  Report  XX.  Bulletins  67.  91. 
Dana's  Mineralogy.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Prof.  Paper  110.  Eng. 
&  :\lin.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  120,  pp.  91-94,  1925. 

Sillimanite  and  andalusite  are  both  aluminum  silicates  (ALSiO,)- 
having  the  same  composition  and  formula,  but  with  slightly  different 
physical  characteristics.  Though  both  crystallize  in  the  orthorhombic 
.system,  their  crystal  habits  are  different :  Andalusite  being  usually  in 
coarse  prismatic  forms,  the  prisms  nearly  square  in  shape ;  also  occurs 
massive,  imperfectly  columnar,  and  sometimes  radiated  and  granular. 
Silliinanite  commonly  occurs  in  long,  slender  crystals,  not  distinctly 
terminated;  i)rismatic  faces  striated  and  rounded;  often  in  close 
parallel  groups,  passing  into  fibrous  and  columnar  ma.ssive  forms, 
sometimes  radiating.  Colors  are  similar.  Hardness,  andalusite  7.'), 
sillimanite  6-7.     Andalusite  is  slightly  lighter  in  specific  gravity. 

A  massive  deposit  of  andalusite,  found  in  Dry  Creek  Canyon  in  the 
White  Mountains  of  the  Inyo  Range,  in  ]\Iono  County,  is  being  mined 
by  the  Champion  Porcelain  Company  of  Detroit,  ^lichigan.  The 
material  is  shipped  East  and  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  porcelain 
for  aut()m()l)ile  spark  plugs  and  for  other  high-tension  electric  insu- 
lators. The  function  and  behavior  of  andalusite  are  des('ril)ed  by  Peck^ 
in  a  recent  paper,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  details.     This  is 

'Peck,    A.    B.,   Note    on   andalusite   from   California,    a   new   use   and   some   thermal 

Sroperties:   Cal.   State  Min.   Bur.,   Mining  in  Cal.,  being  April  chapter,   1924,   of  State 
lineralogist  Report   XX,  pp.   149-154.      Also:   American   Mineralogist,  June,   1924. 


116  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

apparently  the  only  deposit  of  either  andalusite  or  sillimanite  thus  far 
found  in  the  United  States  at  least  in  suflScient  quantity  to  be  of  com- 
irien-ial  consequence.  Commercial  shipments  began  in  1922,  but  as 
tlieiv  is  only  the  one  operator,  the  annual  tonnages  and  values  are 
concealed  under  the  'unapportioned'  item. 

Cyanite  is  also  an  aluminum  silicate  (ALSiOg),  of  the  same  chemical 
composition  as  andalusite  and  sillimanite,  but  crystallizing  in  the 
tric'iinic  system.  Occurs  usually  in  long-bladed  crystals,  rarely  termi- 
nated; hardness  5-7.25;  gra\'iV  3.56-3.67  (being  heavier  than  the 
other  two)  ;  color,  blue.  A  deposit  of  cyanite,  apparently  in  quantity, 
has  been  located  in  Imperial  County,  near  Ogilby,  but  as  yet  no  ship- 
ments made  except  for  experimental  purposes.  If  its  physical  and 
chemical  behavior  prove  to  be  similar  to  andalusite,  it  too  will  have 
commercial  possibilities. 

SOAPSTONE  and  TALC. 

BibliograpJn/:  State  ]Miueralos:ist  Reports  XII.  XIV.  XV.  XVII- 
XXI.  Bulletins  38.  67,  91.^  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  213. 
Rep.  of  Investigations,  Serial  No.  2253,  May,  1921. 

The  total  output  of  talc  and  soapstone  in  California  in  1924  amounted 
to  16.179  tons  valued  at  $242,770,  compared  with  17.439  tons  valued  at 
$252,661  in  1923.  More  than  three-fourths  of  the  product  was  high- 
grade  talc  from  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  counties,  which  material  was 
utilized  mainly  in  toilet  powders,  paint,  paper,  and  rubber  manufacture, 
and  in  part  in  magnesite  stucco  and  flooring.  The  'soapstone'  grades 
were  used  mainly  for  roofing  and  as  a  filler  in  roofing  paper,  and  part 
also  in  magnesite  cement. 

It  is  reported  that  California  talc  is  steadily  replacing  imported  talc 
in  the  toilet  trade  on  the  basis  of  quality.  The  largest  production  of 
talc  in  the  United  States  comes  from  Vermont  and  New  York,  and  of 
massive  soapstone  from  Virginia. 

Composition   and  Varieties. 

Tale  is  hydrous  magnesium  silicate  with  the  chemical  formula 
HoMgarSiOg)^.  It  is  also  called  soapstone.  and  steatite.  The  term 
'  talc '  properly  includes  all  forms  of  the  pure  mineral,  whereas  "  steatite " 
denotes  f)articularly  the  massive,  compact  variety,  and  'soapstone'  the 
impure,  massive  forms  containing  as  low  as  50%  of  talc.  When  pure, 
talc  is  soft,  having  a  hardness  of  1,  but  impurities  increase  the  hardness  ■ 
up  to  3  or  4.  The  color  varies  from  pure  whit^  and  silvery  white 
through  gray,  green,  apple  green,  to  dark  green,  also  yellow,  brown,  and 
reddish  when  impure.  It  is  commonly  compact  or  massive,  or  in 
fine  granular  aggregates,  and  often  in  foliated  plates  or  in  fibrous 
aggregates. 

Uses. 

Although  the  uses  of  talc  and  soapstone  are  many  and  varied,  some 
of  them  are  not  in  general  well  known  nor  fully  developed;  and 
although  few  of  their  uses  can  justly  be  considered  essential  in  the 
sense  that  no  substitutes  can  be  used,  there  are  several  which  are  of 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  117 

great  importance.  The  widest  use  of  talc  is  in  the  powdered  form, 
and  the  value  depends  upon  color  (whiteness),  uniformity,  fineness  of 
grain,  freedom  from  grit,  'slip,'  and  sometimes  freedom  from  lime. 
The  white  varieties,  free  from  grit  and  iron,  low  in  lime,  ground  to 
200-mesh  and  finer,  are  largely  used  as  a  filler  for  paper,  rubber  and 
paint,  and  the  very  highest  grade  as  toilet  powder.  Ground  talc  is  also 
used  in  dressing  and  coating  cloth,  in  making  soap,  rope,  twine,  pipe- 
covering  compounds,  lieavy  lul)ric'ants,  and  polishes.  Ground  talc  and 
soapstone  are  used  for  foundry  facings,  either  alone  or  mixed  with 
graphite ;  and  a  coarser  grade  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  asphalt- 
coated  roofing  felts  and  papers,  both  as  a  filler  and  as  a  surfacing. 
Massive  close-grained  tak*,  free  from  iron  and  grit,  is  cut  into  blanks 
and  baked,  forming  the  material  used  for  gas  tips  and  electrical  insula- 
tion, commercially  known  as  'lava.'  Its  hardness,  its  resistance  to  heat, 
acids  and  alkalies,  and  its  great  dielectric  strength  make  it  very  useful 
for  electric  insulation,  and  no  satisfactory  substitute  for  it  has  been 
found. 

Massive  varieties  of  talc,  pyrophyllite,  and  high  grades  of  soapstone 
are  cut  into  slate  pencils  and  steel-workers'  crayons.  'French  chalk' 
or  'tailor's  chalk'  is  a  soft,  maasive  tale.  In  China,  Japan  and  India, 
massive  talc  (steatite)  is  carved  into  grotesque  images  and  other  forms, 
and  is  often  sold  as  imitation  jade.  Soapstone  is  usually  cut  into  slabs 
of  1  to  2  inches  in  thickness  and  sold  as  griddles,  footwarmers,  and 
fireless-cooker  stones,  or  fabricated  into  laundry  sinks  and  tubs,  labora- 
tor^y-table  tops,  hoods,  tanks  and  sinks,  electric  switchboards,  and  for 
other  uses  in  which  the  properties  of  resistance  to  heat,  acids,  and  alka- 
lies, and  electricity  are  essential. 

A  detailed  description  of  the  classification  and  uses  of  talc  and  soap- 
stone  was  given  in  the  statistical  report  for  1922  (Bulletin  93)  issued 
by  the  State  ^Mining  Bureau,  copies  of  which  are  still  available  for 
distribution. 

Imports. 

Foreign  importations  of  high-grade  white  talc  suitable  for  the  manu- 
facture of  toilet  powder  have  come  mainly  from  Canada,  Italy  and 
France.  Foreign  producers  have  the  benefit  of  cheap  labor,  and  a 
low  tariff'  import  duty.  In  addition  to  these  disadvantages,  California 
operators  have  to  contend  with  transcontinental  freight  rates  to  the 
eastern  manufacturing  centers.  In  1924  importations  totaled  18',199 
.«;hort  tons  valued  at  $356,629,  compared  with  19,988  tons  valued  at 
$425,277  in  1923,  according  to  the  ITnited  States  Bureau  of  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Commerce. 

Californian   Production,  1924. 

California 's  production  of  talc  and  soapstone  in  1924  was  distributed 
by  counties  as  follows : 

County  Tons  Value 

Inyo    6,942  $98,806 

San  Bernardino 7.234  125,926 

Butte,  Calaveras,  El  Dorado* 3.003  18,038 

Totals 16,179  $242,770 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


118 


MINER AIj    IXDUSTRV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Talc   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

Production  has  been  intermittent  in  the  state  since  1893,  as  shown  in 
the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year  Tons     {  Value 

1910 740  $7,260 

1911 

1912 1,750  7.350 

1913 1,350  6.150 

1914 1,000  4,500 

1915 1,663  14.750 

1916  .- 1,703  9,831 

1917  — 5,267  45.279 

1918 -  11,760  85,534 

1919  — 8,764  115,091 

1920 11,327  221,362 

1921 8,752  130,07? 

1922 13,378  197.18< 

1923 17,439  252,661 

1924 16,179  242.770 

Totals 102.304  $1,374,101 


1893  . 

1894  . 

1895  . 

1896  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 

1899  . 

1900  . 

1901  . 

1902  . 

1903  , 

1904  , 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 


400   $17,750 


25 


10 

14 
219 

228 
300 


3 
33 


375 


119 

288 

10.124 

2,315 

3,000 


48 

280 


STRONTIUM. 
Bihliography:  Bulletins  67,  91.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  540;  660-1. 

There  has  been  no  production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California 
since  1918,  though  in  that  year  both  celestite   (SrSO^),  and  the  car- 
bonate, strontiauite   (SrCOs)  were  shipped.     The  first  recorded  con - 
mercial  output  of  strontium  minerals  in  California  was  in  1916.     Th 
occurrence  of  the  carbonate  is  particularly  interesting  and  valuable,  £ 
it  appears  to  lie  the  first  considerable  deposit  of  commercial  importanc 
so  far  opened  up  in  the  United  States.     Shipments  reported  as  avera^ 
ing  80%  SrCOs  have  been  made.     The  deposit  is  associated  with  deposr 
of  barite,  near  Barstow,  San  Bernardino  County.     The  carbonate  hr 
also  been  found  in  massive  form  near  Shoshone.  Inyo  County.     In  addi- 
tion to  Imperial  County,  celestite  is  found  near  Calico  and  Ludlo^- 
and  in  the  Avawatz  ^Mountains  in  San  Bernardino  County,  but  as  y 
undeveloped. 

Production  of  strontium  minerals  in  California,  by  years,  has  been 
follows : 

Year  Tons  Value 

1916   57  $2,850 

1917   3,050  37.( 

1918   2,900  33.( 

1919   - 

Totals — - 6,007  $72, 


The  principal  use  for  strontium  in  the  United  States  is  in  the  foi 
of  the  nitrate  in  the  manufacture  of  red  flares,  or  Costen  and  Bengal 
lights  and  tireworks.     Previous  to  1914,  the  nitrate  was  imported  from 
Germany,  England,  and  Sicily.     In  Germany  and  Ru.ssia.  strontium  in 
the  form  of  the  hydroxide  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar.     It 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   I'KODUCTIOX.  IIU 

is  stated  that  stroutia  is  more  eflficieiit  and  satisfactory  in  that  process 
than  lime,  as  it  gives  an  additional  recovery  of  6%  to  8%. 

Of  the  two  minerals,  strontianite  (carbonate)  and  celestite  (sul- 
phate), the  carbonate  is  the  more  desirable  as  it  is  easier  to  convert  to 
other  salts ;  but  it  is  scarcer.  Celestite  is  found  with  limestone  and 
sandstone  and  is  sometimes  associated  with  gypsum.  Strontianite  is 
also  found  with  limestone,  but  associated  with  barite  and  calcite. 

SULPHUR. 

Biblioyraphij:  State  Mineralouist  Reports  IV,  XIII.  XIV.     Bulle- 
tins 38,  67,  91. 

In  1928-1924  there  was  a  small  production  of  sulphur,  from  a  single 
property  in  Kem  County.  It  was  ground,  and  utilized  as  a  fertilizer 
and  in  dusting  for  mildew.  This  is  the  first  commercial  output  of 
native  sulphur  in  California  for  many  years  although  this  mineral  has 
been  found  to  some  extent  in  Colusa.  Imperial.  Inyo.  Kern.  Lake. 
Sonoma,  Tehama,  and  Ventura  counties. 

Sulphur  was  produced  at  the  famous  Sulphur  Bank  mine  in  Lake 

County,  during  the  years  1865-1868  (inc.),  totaling  941  tons,  valued  at 

$53,500;  following  which  the  property  became  more  valuable  for  its 

quicksilver.     The  Elgin  quicksilver  mine,  near  Wilbur  Springs,  Colusa 

]  County,  is  a  similar  occurrence. 

iThe  principal  sources  in  the  L^nited  States  are  the  stratified  deposits 
in  Louisiana  and  Texas,  extraction  being  accomplished  by  a  unique 
system  of  wells  with  steam  pipes.  It  is  stated  that  the  three  large 
companies  operating  there  are  capable  of  producing  more  than  1,000,000 
.,;  tons  annually  in  excess  of  our  normal  consumption  in  the  United  States, 
-4  which  averages  about  600.000  tons.  The  mines  at  Freeport,  Texas,  are 
J,'  in  a  peculiarly  favorable  location  in  that  they  are  practically  at  tide- 
s  water. 

4  Formerly  considerable  sulphur  was  imported  from  Italy  and  from 
n  Japan:  but  the  situation  is  now  reversed,  so  that  in  1924.  a  total  of 
■  48.1.814  long  tons  valued  at  $7,786,254  was  exported  from  the  United 
^  States,  principally  to  Europe  and  Canada. 


120 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


CHAPTER  SIX. 

SALINES. 

Bihliographij:  State  ]\Iineralooist  Reports  III,  XIV,  XV,  XVII- 
XX  (inc.).  Bulletin  24.  Spnrr  and  Wormser,  "JMarketinsr  of 
Minerals."  "Non-]\Ietallic  Minerals,"  by  R.  B.  Ladoo.  See 
also  under  each  substance. 

Under  this  heading  are  included  borax,  common  salt,  soda,  potash, 
and  other  alkaline  salts.  The  first  two  have  been  produced  in  a  number 
of  localities  in  California,  more  or  less  regularly  since  the  early  sixties. 
Except  for  a  single  year's  absence,  soda  has  had  a  continuous  produc- 
tion since  1894.  Potash,  magnesium  chloride  and  sulphate,  and  calcium 
chloride  have  been  added  to  the  commercial  list  in  recent  years,  while 
the  nitrates  are  still  prospective. 

Our  main  resources  of  salines  are  the  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions 
of  Imperial,  Inyo,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  and  San  Luis 
Obispo  counties,  and  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  total  value  of  this  group  shows  a  decrease  to  $-4,37-4,192  in  1924 
from  the  1923  figure  of  $4,614,619,  as  detailed  in  the  following  tabu- 
lation : 


Substance 

1923 

1924 

Increases- 
Decrease — 
Value 

Tons 

Value 

Tons 

Value 

Borates, 

62,667 
3,662 
29.597 
275,979 
34,885 

11,893.798 

116,031 

709,836 

1,130,670 

764,284 

52,070 

4,823 

33,107 

318,800 

32,536 

$1,599,149 

145,883 

747,407 

1,159.137 

711,796 

10.820 

$294,649— 
29,852-t- 

Potash 

Salt - 

37.571+ 
28  467+ 

Soda 

52,488— 

Unapportioned'* 

10  820+ 

Totals . 

$4,614,619 

$4,374  192 

Net  decrease ....     .  . 

$240  427— 

"Includes  calcium  chloride,  aluminum  sulphate,  glauber  salt,  potash  alum. 


BORATES. 

Bibliogmphij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  III,  X,  XII-XV  (inc.), 
XVII-XXI  (inc).    Bulletins  24,  67,  91. 

During  1924  there  was  produced  in  California  a  total  of  93,273  tons 
of  borate  materials,  compared  with  a  total  of  118,601  tons  for  the  year 
1923.  The  material  shipped  in  1924  included  crude  and  selected  cole- 
manite  ore  from  Inyo  and  San  Bernardino  counties  varying  from  18.6% 
to  26.9%  anhydrous  boric  acid  ("A.B.A."),  also  crystallized  borax 
recovered  by  two  plants  from  evaporation  of  brines  at  Searles  Lake  in 
San  Bernardino  County. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  121 

As  the  crude  ore  is  not  sold,  as  such,  but  is  almost  entirely  calcined 
before  shipping  to  the  refinery  for  conversion  into  the  borax  of  com- 
merce, and  because  of  the  fact  that  the  material  varied  widely  in  boric 
acid  content,  we  have  recalculated  the  tonnage  to  a  basis  of  40%  A.B.A. 
This  is  approximately  the  average  A.B.A.  content  of  the  colemanite 
material  after  calcining,  and  also  of  the  crystallized  borax  obtained 
from  evaporation  of  the  lake  brines. 

Recalculated  as  above,  the  1924  production  totals  52,070  tons  valued 
at  $1,599,149.  a  decrea.se  from  the  similar  figures  for  1923  which  were 
62,667  tons  and  $1,893,798. 

Colenmnite  is  a  calcium  borate,  and  the  material  mined  is  shipped  to 
seaboard  chemical  plants  for  refining.  Refined  'bora.x'  (sodium  tetra- 
borate) is  used  in  making  the  enameled  coating  for  cast-iron  and  steel- 
ware  employed  in  plumbing  fixtures,  chemical  equipment,  and  kitchen 
utensils.  It  is  also  a  constituent  of  borosilicate  glasses  which  are  util- 
ized in  making  lamp  chimneys,  baking  dishes,  and  laboratory  glassware. 
Other  important  uses  of  l)orax  are  in  the  manufacture  of  laundry  and 
kitchen  soaps,  in  starch,  paper  sizing,  tanning,  welding,  and  in  the 
preparation  of  boric  acid,  which  is  employed  as  an  antiseptic  and  in 
preserving  meats. 

Total  Production  of  Borate  Materials  in  California. 

Borax  wa.s  first  discovered  in  California  in  the  waters  of  Tuscan 
Springs  in  Tehama  County,  January  8,  1856.  Borax  Lake  in  Lake 
County,  was  discovered  in  September  of  the  same  year  by  Dr.  John  A. 
Veach.  This  deposit  was  worked  in  1864-1868',  inclusive,  and  during 
that  time  produced  1,18.1,365  pounds  of  refined  borax.  The  bulk  of 
it  was  exported  by  sea,  to  New  York.  This  was  the  first  commercial 
output  of  this  salt  in  the  Ignited  States,  and  California  is  still  today 
the  leading  American  producer  of  borax,  having  been  for  many  years  the 
sole  producer. 

Production  from  the  dry  lake  'playa'  deposits  of  Inyo  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  began  in  1873;  but  it  was  not  until  1887  that  the 
borax  industry  was  revolutionized  by  the  discovery  of  the  colemanite 
beds  at  Calico,  in  San  Bernardino  County.  These  have  since  been 
largely  worked  out.  and  the  output  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
coming  from  similar  beds  in  Inyo  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  In  1920 
San  Bernardino  County  again  entered  the  field  with  shipments  of 
such  ore  from  near  Daggett.  The  colemanite  deposits  of  Ventura 
County  are  at  present  unworked,  owing  to  lack  of  transportation 
facilities.  Some  production  of  colemanite  is  being  made  from  deposits 
recently  opened  up  in  Clarke  County,  Nevada. 


122 


MINERAL    INDUSTUV    ol"    (ALIFOKMA. 


The  total  production  of  borate  materials  in  California  is  shown  in 
the  following  table : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


18W 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 


12 
126 

201 

220 

32 


$9,478 

94,099 

132,538 

156,137 

22,384 


140 
515 
915 
168 
437 
993 
373 
364 
609 
690 
732 
900 
019 
942 
.285 
,015 
,405 
965 
,201 
,267 
,525 
.955 
,770 


89,600 
255.440 
259.427 
289,080 
312,537 
193,705 
66,257 
65.443 
149,245 
189,750 
201,300 
265,500 
198,705 
155,430 
173,475 
116,689 
196,636 
145,473 
480.152 
640.000 
838,787 
593,292 
SU7.S07 


Tons 


895 5,959 

896 6,754 

897 8,000 

898 8,300 

S99 20,357 

900 25.837 

901  22.221 

902 "17.202 

903 34.430 

904 45,647 

905 46,334 

906  58,173 

907 53.413 

908 22.200 

909 16.628 

910 16,828 

911  50.945 

912  42.135 

913 58.051 

914  62,500 

915 67,004 

916 103.523 

917 109,944 

918 88,772 

919 66,791 

920 127,065 

921  50,136 

922   »>39,087 

923 62.667 

924 -  52.070 


Value 

$595,90(1 
675.400 
1,080,000 
1,153,000 
1,139.882 
1,013.251 
982.380 
2,234,994 
661,400 
698,810 
1,019,158 
1,182,410 
l,200,9i;f 
1.117,000 
1.163.960 
1,177,960 
1.456,67i 
l,122,7ia 
1,491,530 
1.483,500 
1,663,521 
2,409,375 
2,561,95)5 
1.867.90& 
1.717.19^ 
2.794,20* 
1,096,32ft 
1,068,025 
l,&9a798 
1.599.149 


Totals 1.427,749    $48,420,657 


"Befined  borax.    ''Recalculated  to  40%  'anhydrous  boric  acid'  equivalent  beginning  with  1922. 

CALCIUM   CHLORIDE. 

Bihliographij:  Y.  8.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Kes.  1919,  Ft.  11. 
Engineering  and  Contracting,  Roads  &  Streets  monthly  issue, 
Feb.  6,  1924.  'How  to  Maintain  Roads,'  manual  of  instruction 
of  Dow  Chemical  Company. 

Calcium  chloride  is  hygroscopic,  that  is,  it  has  an  affinity  for  water. 
This  property  is  taken  advantage  of  by  utilizing  this  salt  as  a  drying 
agent.  It  is  also  sprinkled  on  dirt  roads  and  playgrounds  to  keep 
down  dust  by  absorbing  moisture.  In  refrigerating  machinery  for  ice 
factories,  meat-packing  houses  and  cold-storage  warehouses,  a  calcium- 
chloride  solution  is  stated  to  have  some  advantages  over  salt  brine.  In 
fire  buckets  this  solution  has  an  advantage  over  pure  water,  in  that  it 
has  a  lower  freezing  point,  does  not  corrode  metal,  and  tends  to  keep 
the  buckets  full  due  to  its  absorbing  moisture  from  the  atmosphere. 
Powdered  calcium  chloride  is  used  in  drying  ga.ses,  fruits  and 
vegetables. 

For  dust  prevention  on  roads,  it  is  stated  that  the  flake  form  of  the 
eliloride  gives  lietter  results  than  the  granulated.  Immediatel.y  after 
spreading,  the  flake  begins  to  absorb  moisture  from  the  air — "in  fact, 
alisorbs  three  times  its  wciirht  in  water,  dissolves  itself  into  tlie  surface 


i 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL  •PRODUCTION.  123 

material  of  the  road,  remains  there,  holds  the  moisture  and  prevents 
dust."  It  is  recommended  that  the  first  application  in  the  spring 
should  be  made  as  soon  as  the  roads  are  partly  dried  and  the  spring 
rains  over,  in  order  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of  the  first  dust  during 
the  season.  From  1  to  2  pounds  of  flake  chloride  are  used  per  s(|uare 
yard  according  to  the  nature  of  the  road  surface.  Ordiuarily  a  second 
application,  of  from  4  to  1  pound  per  square  yai'd,  should  follow  in 
from  four  to  six  weeks  depending  upon  conditions;  and  sometimes  a 
light,  third  application  may  be  necessary  during  a  long,  dry  summer. 
The  most  satisfactory  method  for  applying  large  (piantities  of  flake 
calcium  chloride  is  to  use  an  agricultural  lime  or  fertilizer  spreader 
attached  l)y  a  short  tongue  to  the  rear  of  a  truck.  p]xcellent  result-^ 
are  reported  with  the  following  kinds  of  road  surfaces:  gravel,  water- 
]»()und  gravel,  water-bound  macadam,  sand-clay,  clay-sand,  cinders, 
mine  tailings.  It  can  not  be  used  to  advantage  on  roads  of  heavy 
clay,  oil-treated  surfaces,  heavy  rolling  sand,  or  the  ordinary  dirt  road 
which  is  composed  almost  entirely  of  fine  dead  material.  The  last 
named  should  first  have  a  resurfacing  or  application  of  gravel. 

A  very  important  and  growing  use  for  calcium  chloride  is  its 
application  to  curing  conerete  pavements  instead  of  the  slower  and 
more  expensive  earth  and  water-covering  method.  It  is  stated  that  one 
application  of  the  flake  chloride  will  abi-orb  a  sufficient  amount  of 
moisture  from  the  air  to  keep  the  pavements  wet  continuously  24  hours 
per  day  when  properly  applied.  As  soon  as  the  newly  laid  concrete 
has  taken  on  enough  set  to  permit  an  application  without  marring 
the  surface,  the  chloride  should  be  spread  on  at  the  rate  of  2  to  2^ 
pounds  per  square  yard,  depending  upon  the  dryness  of  the  weather. 
It  should  be  evenly  spread.  There  is  no  need  of  applying  an  e.Rrth 
covering  and  hence  no  sul)se(iuent  earth  removal,  and  no  extra  water 
])umping,  thereby  eliminating  these  items  of  expense.  Not  only  that, 
Init  experience  has  proved  that  the  time  of  set  for  the  concrete  is 
shortened  by  use  of  the  chloride,  so  that  pavements  so  treated  can 
be  opened  to  traffic  in  one-half  the  time  required  if  cured  by  ponding 
or  bv  earth  and  water.  In  the  case  of  patching  broken  i)avements, 
if  calcium  chloride  is  mixed  in  with  the  concrete  as  laid,  in  proper 
proportions,  and  a  further  application  spread  on  the  finished  surface, 
the  patched  pavement  can  be  opened  to  traffic  in  48  hours  without 
injury  to  the  concrete. 

Californian    Production. 

Commercial  ]UT)duetion  of  calcium  (•hh)ride  in  California  was  first 
reported  to  the  State  Mining  Hureau  in  1921,  from  two  i)lants  in  San 
liernardino  County,  being  obtained  as  a  by-product  in  the  refining  of 
salt  from  deposits  in  certain  of  the  desert  dry  lakes.  In  1 922-1  i)24, 
there  was  only  a  single  operator,  so  that  the  annual  details  are  concealed 
under  the  'unapportioned'  item. 
Year  Tons  Value 

1921 683  $22,980 

1922),  -        -        -  -  ^  ^^^^^  26,580 

1923f   , 

1924      

Totals    l-SS"^  *^»-560 

*  Annual  details  concealed  under  'unapportioned.'  on  account  of  a  single  producer. 


124 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


MAGNESIUM  SALTS. 
Bibliography:  Reports  XX.  XXI.     Bulletin  91.     'Dictionary  of 
Applied  Chemistrj','  by  Thorpe.     U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Min.  Res 
of  U.  S. 

The  production  of  magnesium  chloride  and  sulphate  in  California 
during  1924  totaled  4.823  tons,  valued  at  $145,883,  an  increase  both  in 
quantity  and  value  over  the  1923  figur&s  of  3,662  tons  and  $116,031. 
This  was  nearly  all  chloride,  sold  for  use  in  magnesite  stucco  and  cement 
mixtures  (Sorel  cement),  and  with  one  exception,  was  prepared  from 
residual  bitterns  at  salt  plants  in  Alameda.  Los  Angeles.  San  Diego, 
and  San  Mateo  counties.  It  was  in  part  marketed  in  the  liquid  form. 
The  exception  consisted  of  a  natural  sulphate  shipped  from  one  of  the 
desert  dry  lakes  in  Inyo  County  by  the  American  Magnesium  Company 
and  refined  at  their  plant  at  Wilmington.  The  sulphate  marketed 
was  utilized  for  medicinal  and  bath  purposes. 

With  the  use  of  magnesite  cement  and  stucco  coming  more  into 
prominence  in  building  construction  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  the  demand 
for  magnesium  chloride  is  increasing  here :  but  the  domestic  article  has 
to  meet  the  competition  of  the  cheaper,  imported  German  chloride. 

The  average  value  reported  for  the  chloride  produced  in  California 
in  1924  was  approximately  $29  per  ton,  f.o.b.  plant. 

Total    Production    of    Magnesium    Salts   in    California. 

Commercial  production  of  magnesium  chloride  in  California  was 
begun  in  1916  by  some  of  the  salt  companies,  from  the  residual 
bitterns  obtained  during  the  evaporation  of  sea  water  for  its  sodium 
chloride.  In  addition,  some  magnesium  sulphate,  or  'epsom  salts'  is 
also  made,  annually,  but  in  smaller  amount. 

The  total  production  4)i  magnesium  salts  iu  California,  since  the 
beginning  of  the  industry  here,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Year 


Tons 

Value 

851 

$6,407 

1,064 

34,973 

1.008 

29,955 

1,616 

82,457 

3,150 

107,787 

4,153 

106,140 

3,036 

89,788 

3.662 

116,031 

4,823 

145,883 

1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
1920 
1921 
1922 
1923 
1924 


Totals 23,363 


$719,421 


NITRATES. 

Bibliography:  Report  XV.     Bulletins  24,   67,   91.     U.   S.   G.   S., 
Press  Bulletin  No.  373,  July,  1918. 

Nitrates  of  sodium,  potassium  and  calcium  have  been  found  in  various 
places  in  the  desert  regions  of  the  state,  but  no  deposit  of  commercial 
value  has  been  developed  as  yet.  It  is  hoped  that  a  closer  search  may 
some  day  be  rewarded  by  workable  discoveries.  At  present  the  princi- 
pal commercial  source  of  nitrates  is  the  Chilean  saltpeter  (sodium 
nitrate)  deposits  in  South  America. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


125 


The  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically  has  been  accom- 
plished successfully  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  The  possibilities  of 
cheap  hydro-electric  power  in  California  make  the  subject  one  of 
interest  to  us,  as  we  have  also  the  natural  raw  materials  and  chemicals 
to  go  with  the  power.  Sodium  and  potassium  cyanides  can  be  made 
by  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrogen  electrically. 


POTASH. 

Bihliography :  Reports  XV,  XVIII,  XX.  Bulletins  24,  67,  91. 
U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  1913,  1914,  1915.  Senate  Doc.  No.  190, 
62d  Congress,  2d  Session.  Mining  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  112,  p.  155; 
Vol.  114,  p.  789.  Eng.  and  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  117,  p.  557, 
Apr.  5,  1924. 

During  1924,  a  total  of  33,107  tons  of  potash  salts  of  all  grades  was 
produced  in  California  valued  at  $747,407,  compared  with  29,597  tons 
and  $709.8'36  in  1923.  This  included  potassium  chloride  from  salt- 
works bitterns  and  from  Searles  Lake  brine,  and  sulphate  from  port- 
land-cement  dust.  The  quality  varied  from  30%  to  61.25%  equivalent 
KoO  content,  these  salts  being  produced  at  plants  in  Alameda,  San 
Bernardino,  San  ]\Iateo.  and  Santa  Cruz  counties.  The  product  sold 
was  utilized  mainly  for  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers,  and  some  for 
caustic  potash  (KOH). 

Imports  of  crude  potash  into  the  United  States  in  1924,  according  to 
the  U.  S.  Geological  Survev,  amounted  to  692,250  short  tons,  containing 
200,365  short  tons  of  K.'o,  valued  at  $13,376,282.  Of  this  amount 
663,914  tons  of  crude  potash,  containing  187,079  short  tons  of  KoO, 
valued  at  $10,042,575  were  salts  used  mainly  in  the  fertilizer  industry. 
Germany  and  France  are  the  foreign  sources  of  supply. 

According  to  ]\IacDowelP 

"The  principal  potash  salts  used  in  commercial  fertilizer  mixtures  and  the  basis 
on  which  they  are  sold  are  as  follows  : 


Piirity  in 
per  cent 


Sold  on 
basis  in 
per  cent 


Form 


Muriate  of  potash.. 
Sulphate  of  potash. 
Double  manure  salt 

Manure  salt 

Manure  'alt 

Kainite 


80-85 

90-95 

48-53 

30 

20 

12.4  K.0 


80KC1 
90  KSOi 
48  KiSO, 
30K,0 
20K5O 


Potassium  chloride 

Potassium  sulphate 

Potassium  sulphate 

Double  salt  of  magnesium  and  potassium  chloride 

Double  salt  of  magnesium  and  potassium  chloride 

Mostly  potassium  chloride 


"The  above  salts  are  in  crystallized  form,  of  standard  analysis.  In  the  higher 
grades  of  muriate  and  sulphate,  material  is  in  the  form  of  very  tine  crystals  barely 
detectable  by  the  eye.  In  the  lower  grades  of  manure  salt  and  kainite  the  crystals  are 
larger,   the   material   being  ground   to  pass  a   4-mesh   screen. 

•  »«»»»••*  * 

"The  records  of  the  Potash  Syndicate  in  Germany  indicate  that  production  of 
K;0  during  the  last  eight  years  varied  from  356,056  metric  tons  in  1915  to  614,834 
metric  tons  in  1922.  These  figures  represent  minimum  and  maximum  yearly 
production. 

"Prices  on  potash  for  fertilizers  over  a  period  of  years,  exclusive  of  the  war,  have 
been  maintained  on  a  fairly  uniform  basis.  The  net  cost  to  the  manufacturer  over 
a  period  of  years  has  not  varied,  excepting  during  the  war,  as  much  as  other  raw 
materials.  Kainite  testing  li'.4  per  cent  of  potash  has  varied  from  $5.50  to  $9  per 
ton;  20  per  cent  manure  salts  from  $7.50  to  $12  per  ton;  muriate  from  $30  to  $36 
per  ton,  basis  SO  per  cent  ;  sulphate  from  $40  to  $46  per  ton.  basis  90  per  cent. 
At  the  present  time  the  Germans  have  a  practical  monopoly  on  the  manufacture  of 
sulphate  of  potash,   as  little  kieserit  is  found  in   the  Alsatian  field.     Owing  to   the 

'MacDowell,  C.  H.,  Marketing  of  potash:  Eng.  &  Min.  Jour.-Press,  Vol.  117,  p.  558, 
Apr.  5,  1924. 


126 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


high  cost  of  fuel  and  labor,  they  have  recently  increased  the  price  $2.25  per' ton. 
During  the  war,  domestic  potash  sold  at  from  $4  to  $.5  a  unit  KoO,  German  muriate 
a.s  high  as  $.500  a  ton  and  sulphate  at  |400  a  ton.  There  is  no  indication  on  the 
.sellers'  part  of  raising  prices  still  further,  and  unless  the  German  and  French 
producers  reach  an  agreement,  which  does  not  now  seem  probable,  the  potash 
requirements  of  the  fertilizer  industry  seem  assured  for  the  present  at  a  comparatively 
low  price." 

Other  uses  for  potash  salts,  besides  those  noted  above,  are  in  the 
manufacture  of  the  best  liquid  soap  and  some  higher-grade  cake  soaps, 
of  some  finer  grades  of  glass,  and  in  matciies.  The  chemical  require- 
ments iuL'ludc  tanning,  dyeing,  metallurgy,  electroplating,  photog- 
raphy, and  medicine. 

Total    Production   of   Potash   in   California. 

Potash  production  began  commercially  in  California  in  1914,  with  a 
small  yield  from  kelp.  Considerable  time  and  money  has  been  spent 
on  research  work  incident  to  developing  deposits  of  potash-bearing 
residues  and  brines  in  the  old  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions,  and 
production  there  has  been  accomplished  on  a  commercial  scale  at  plants 
on  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County.  Some  is  also  made  annually 
from  salt-works  bitterns,  and  from  portland-eement  dust,  as  above 
noted. 

The  annual  amounts  and  value  <:f  the>e  potash  materials,  sinr-e  their 
beginning  in  California  in  1914,  are  shown  by  the  following  table: 


Year 


Value 


1914 !  10 

191.5 I  1,076 

1916 I  17,908 

1917 i  129,022 

1918 ■  49,381 

1919 '  28,118 

1920 26,298 

1921 14.806 

1922 i  17,776 

192.3 I  29,597 

1924 I  33,107 

Totals 347,099 


$460 

19,391 

663,605 

4,202,889 

6,808,976 

2,415,963 

1.465.463 

390,210 

584.388 

709.!S36 

747.40; 


$18,014,5J 


SALT. 

BibJiof/raiJiij :  State  Mineralogist  Rejiorts  II.  XIl-XV  (inc. "I, 
XVil-XXI  (inc.)  ;  Bulletins  24.  (i7.  91.  V.  S.  (ieol.  Surv..  Bull. 
669.    r.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines.  Bull.  146. 

Most  of  the  salt  production  in  California  is  obtained  by  evaporating 
the  water  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  plants  being  located  on  the  shores  of 
San  Francisco,  ^lonterey  and  San  Diego  bays,  and  at  Long  Beach. 
Additional  amounts  are  derived  from  lakes  and  lake  beds  in  the  desert 
regions,  mainly  in  Kern  and  San  Bernardino  counties.  A  small 
amount  of  valuable  medicinal  salts  is  obtained  by  evaporation  of  the 
water  of  Mono  Lake.  ^Fono  Countv. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


127 


128 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Distril)utioii  of  the  1!)24  salt  production  of  California,  by  counties, 
wa.s  as  follows : 


County 

Tons 

\'alue 

189.217 
10.506 
29.699 
52,258 
35,120 

$635,653 

Kern                                                              -- 

44,115 

99.791 

205,176 

174,402 

Totals                    .   . 

318,800 

$1,159,137 

"Medicinal  salts.     *Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

The  alx)ve  returns  show  an  increase  both  in  tonnage  and  value  over 
the  1923  figures,  establishing  a  new  high  record  for  this  industry  in 
California.  There  Avere  nine  plants  operating  in  Alameda  County,  and 
a  total  of  twelve  plants  in  the  other  counties  tabulated,  being  an  increase 
of  three  over  the  total  number  operated  in  1923. 


Production   of  Salt   in   California,   by  Years. 

Amount  and  value  of  annual  production  of  salt  in  California  from 
1887  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation : 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 


28,000 
30,800 
21,000 
8,729 
20,094 
23,570 
50,500 
49,131 
53,031 
64,743 
67,851 
93,421 
82,654 
89,338 
126,218 
115,208 
102,895 
95,968 
77,118 
101,650 


$112,000 

92,400 

63,000 

57,085 

90,303 

104,788 

213,000 

140,087 

150,576 

153,244 

157,520 

170,855 

149,588 

204,754 

366,376 

205,876 

211,365 

187,300 

141,925 

213,228 


1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 - 

1922 

1923 

1924 

Totals 


88,063 
121,764 
155,680 
174,920 
173,332 
185,721 
204,407 
223,806 
169,028 
186,148 
227,825 
212,076 
233,994 
230,638 
197,989 
223,238 
275,979 
318,800 


4,905,327 


$310,967 
281,469 
414,708 
395,417 
324,255 
383,370 
462,681 
583,553 
368,737 
455,695 
5^4,373 
806,328 
896,963 
972,648 
832,702 
819,187 
1,130,670 
1,159,137 


$14,368,130  ' 


SODA. 

Bibliography:  State  :Mineralogist  Reports  XII.  XIII,  XV,  XVII. 
XVIII,  XX;  Bulletins  24,  67,  91.    U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  Bull.  717. 

The  production  of  natural  carbonates  and  sulphate  of  sodium  in 
California  in  1921  included :  soda  ash  and  bicarbonate  from  plants  at 
Owens  Lake,  Inyo  County;  trona  ('sesqui-carbonate, '  a  double  salt  of 
NajGOa  and  NaHCOg)  from  Searles  Lake,  San  Bernardino  County; 
and  salt  cake  (sulphate)  from  the  Carrizo  Plains,  San  Luis  ()bispo 
County.    The  total  amounted  to  32,536  tons,  valued  at  $711,796,  being 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


129 


a  .slight  decrease  both  in  toniuiy"'  Jiiid  value  fiom  the  ^\)'2'^  fiuui-es  of 
:U.8^5  tons  and  $764,284. 

The  dense  ash  and  bicarbonate  were  used  in  the  manufacture  of  soap, 
sal  soda,  glass,  and  chemicals;  tlie  salt  cake  in  glass  inaking:  and  the 
trona  for  neutralizing:  in  flotation  concentration. 

Sodium  compounds  to  some  extent  replace  potassium  compounds,  in 
glass  and  soap  making,  in  photography,  in  match  making,  in  tanning, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  cyanide  for  extracting  gold  and  silvei-  from 
their  ores. 

Soda   Production  of  California,  by  Years. 

The  total  output,  showing  amount  and  value  of  these  materials  in 
California  since  the  inception  of  the  statistical  records  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  is  given  in  the  table  which  follows: 


Year  Tons     i     Value 

1894 1,530  $20,000 

1895 1.900  47,500 

1806 3,000  65,000 

1897 5,000  110.000 

1898 7.000  154.000 

1899 10,000  250.000 

1900 .-         1,000  50,000 

1901 8,000  400,000 

1902  ._ 7.000  50,000 

1903 —  18,000  27,000 

1904 12,000  18,000 

1905 15,000  22,500 

1906 12,000  18,000 

1907 

1908 9,600  14.4W 

1909 7,712  11,593 


Tear  i      Tons 

1910 

1911  

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 

1920 

1921 

1922 

1923 

1024   

Totals 


Value 


8,125 

$11,862 

9,023 

52,887 

7,200 

37,094 

1,861 

24.936 

6,522 

115,396 

5,799 

83,485 

10,593 

264.825 

24,505 

928.578 

20.447 

855,423 

21,294 

721.958 

32.407 

1.164.898 

14,828 

438.996 

20,084 

573,661 

34,885 

764,284 

:s2.r,:-!(i 

711,790 

368,851 

$8,008,072 

k 


9—41922 


180 


MINERAL    I^•DT■^^TRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


THAPTEK  SP:VEX. 

BY  COUNTIES. 

I ntroductory. 

Tlu'  State  of  California  iiK-hulcs  a  total  aiva  of  15S.360  siiuare  inih-s, 
of  whii-li  155.980  .square  miles  are  of  land.  The  maximum  width  is 
235  miles,  the  mininium.  14:8  miles;  and  the  length  from  the  northwest 
corner  to  the  southeast  corner  is  775  miles.  The  state  is  divided  into 
fifty-eight  counties.  The  1920  census  figures  show  a  total  population 
for  California  of  3,437,709.  A  January,  1925,  estimate  based  upon 
average  daily  attendance  in  elementary  schools  places  the  figure  this 
year  at  approximately  5.000.000.  ^linerals  of  commercial  value  exist 
in  every  county,  and  during  1924  some  active  production  was  reported 
to  the  State  Alining  Bureau  from  all  of  the  fifty-eight. 

Of  the  first  ten  counties,  in  point  of  total  output  for  1924,  the  first 
three,  Los  Angeles.  Kerii.  Orange,  owe  their  position  mainly  to  petro- 
leum, as  do  also  Fresno  (fifth),  Ventura  (sixth),  Santa  Barbara 
(^eighth).  Los  Angeles,  due  to  its  oil,  leads  all  the  others,  being  credited 
\vith  45^  of  the  entire  state's  total  for  1924:,  having  passed  Kern  in 
1923  which  led  for  many  years.  San  Bernardino  (fourth)  owes  its 
place  chiefly  to  cement,  silver,  potash,  borax,  mineral  water,  and 
tungsten;  Riverside  (seventh)  to  cement,  stone,  brick  and  tile;  Shasta 
to  copper,  stone  and  pyrite ;  Santa  Cruz  to  cement ;  Plumas  to  copper. 
Twenty-three  counties  have  each  a  total  in  excess  of  a  million  dollars 
for  1924.  Cement  is  an  important  item  in  seven  of  these  counties,  and 
magnesite  in  one.  In  point  of  variety  and  diversity,  San  Bernardino 
County  led  all  the  others  in  1924.  with  a  total  of  21  different  mineral 
products  on  its  commercial  list,  followed  by  Inyo  with  20 ;  by  San  Diego 
and  Rivei-side  with  18"  each:  Los  Angeles  Avith  17:  Kem,  16;  Shasta, 
14:  Calaveras,  12;  Placer,  11;  Fresno,  ^lonterey.  Santa  Barbara.  Santa 
Clara.  10  each:  Butte,  Orange,  Siskiyou,  and  Tuolumne.  9  each.  The 
counties  with  their  mineral  resources,  production  for  1924,  etc.,  are 
considered  in  detail  in  the  following  paragraphs. 


Value  of  California's  Mineral  Production  by  Counties  for  1924,  Arranged  in  the 
Order  of  Their   Importance. 


County  Value 

1.  Los  Angeles $168,420,709 

•■>  Kern 74,164,451 

3'.  Orange 40,481,210 

4.  San  Bernardino 12,642,431 

5.  Fresno 12,547,79S 

6.  Ventura 6,089,394 

7.  Riverside     5,508,244 

8.  Santa  Barbara 5,159,740 

9.  Shasta 4,754,664 

in.  Santa    Cruz    4.339.233 

11.  Plumas    3,876,105 

12.  Solano   3,089,475 

13.  Nevada    2.945,267 

14.  .\mador 2,938.865 

15.  Alameda   2,634,645 

16.  Contra  Costa 2.348,090 

17.  Sacramento 2.196,210 

18.  Yuba    2.189.881 

19.  San  Benito 2.144.603 

20.  Invo 2,110.075 

21.  Calaveras   1,572,419 

22.  Santa  Clara 1,150,401 

23.  San    Diego    1.013. 11^ 

24.  Madera    955,469 

25.  Sierra    812,476 

26.  Del  Norte 722,265 

27.  Butte 641,750 

28.  Tuolumne 602.156 

29.  San  Joaquin 602,500  j 

30.  Marin    527,231  I 


<    Ol]IU>' 

Trinity 

Tulare 

Placer    

Humboldt 

El  Dorado  

Napa 

Stanislaus 

San  Luis  Obispo 

San  Mateo 

Monterey 

Mariposa 

Sonoma 

San  Francisco 

Siskiyou    

Imperial    

Mono   

Lake 

Merced 

<^olu«a 

Mendocino 

Glenn 

Lassen 

Tehama 

Yolo 

Alpine    

Modoc    

Kings     

Sutter    


'alue 

.*5iiri,344 

498,674 

492,180 

485.478 

395,572 

359,265 

345,138 

317.779 

302,171 

286.490 

234.707 

172,051 

150,258 

140,787 

139.9ilS 

126,691 

96.396 

87.603 

77.267 

60.76S 

41.550 

37.908 

34.454 

15,800 

2,552 

1,300 

725 

97 


Total   $374,620,789 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  131 

ALAMEDA. 

Area:  843  square  miles. 
Population:  344,177   (1920  census). 
Locnfion:  East  side  of  San  Frauoiseo  Tiay. 

Alameda  County,  while  in  no  sense  one  of  the  'mining  counties,' 
comes  fifteenth  on  the  list  M-itli  a  value  of  mineral  products  for  1924 
of  .1^2.634.645.  an  increase  over  the  1923  total,  which  was  $2,487,035. 
The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  brick,  chromite, 
clay,  coal,  limestone,  m^gnesite,  manganese,  potash,  pyrite.  salt,  soap- 
stone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  tile $763,476 

Clay    (pottery) 2,482   tons  1,124 

Mag-nesium  salts 997  tons  28,661 

Salt 189,217   tons  635,653 

Stone,   miscellaneous l,158,8Si; 

Other  minerals* 46,845 


I 


Total  value ?2, 634, 645 

^Inrhules  potash  and  pyrites. 

ALPINE. 

Area:  776  sciuare  miles. 

Population:  243  (1920  census). 

Location :  On  eastern  border  of  state,  south  of  L^kc  Tahoe. 


Alpine  has  at  times  in  the  past  shown  a  small  production  mainly  of 
gold  and  silver.  For  1924  the  total  value  was  $2,552  and  included 
copper,  lead,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

This  county  lies  just  south  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  higli  Sierra  Nevada 
range  of  mountains.  Transportation  is  by  auto,  wagon,  or  mule  back, 
and  facilities  in  general  are  lacking  to  promote  development  work  of 
any  kind. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are  varied  and  the  country  has 
not  yet  been  thoroughly  prospected.  Occurrences  of  barium,  copper, 
gold,  gypsum,  lead,  limestone,  pyrite.  rose  quartz,  silver,  tourmaline, 
and  zinc  have  been  noted  here. 

AMADOR. 

Area:  601  square  miles. 

Population:  7793  (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  part  of  stati^ — ^Mother  Lode  district. 

The  value  of  Amador  County's  mineral  production  increased  from 
$1,955,874  in  1923  to  $2,938,865,  placing  it  number  fourteen  on  the 
list  of  counties  in  the  state  as  regards  total  value  of  mineral  substances 
marketed.    The  increase  was  due  mainly  to  gold. 

Althougli  having  an  outut  consisting  of  7  different  minerals,  the 
leading  product,  gold,  makes  up  ap])roximatcly  89*^;  of  the  entire  total. 

Amador  at  one  time  led  the  state  in  gold  production,  though  exceeded 
in  1920-1923  by  Yuba  and  Nevada  counties,  but  in  1924  by  Nevada 
Countv  onlv. 


1:12  MINERAL    IXnrsTRV    OF    (^ALIKORXIA. 

The  mineral  re.sourees  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  briek.  eliro- 
mite,  clay,  coal,  copper,  »old.  lime,  quartz  crystals,  cflass-sand.  sandstone, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  i>rodu<-tinn  foi*  lf(24  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   .Unount  Value 

Clay    (pottery) 64,317  tons  $S7.444 

Gold 2,706,508 

Silver 18,251 

Stone,   miscellaneous 3,050 

Other  minerals* 123,612 

Total  value $2,938,865 

♦Includes  brick,  coal,  copper,  lead. 

BUTTE. 
Area:  1722  square  miles. 
Population:  30,030  (1920  census). 
Location:  North-central  portion  of  state. 

Butte,  twenty-seventh  county  in  California  in  regard  to  the  value 
of  its  mineral  output,  reported  a  commercial  production  of  nine  mineral 
sub.stances.  having  a  total  value  of  .^641. 750  as  compared  with  $841,948 
in  1923.  As  will  be  noted  in  the  following  tabulation,  gold  is  by  far  the 
most  important  item.  Butte  stands  seventh  among  the  gold-producing 
counties  of  the  state.  Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are 
asbestos,  barytes.  chromite.  gems,  gold,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water, 
platinum  group,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  value  for  1924  was  as  follows. 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Gems $225 

Gold 484,530 

Mineral  water 6.000   gals.  4,500 

Platinum 20  fine  oz.  2,829 

Silver 2.118 

Stone,  miscellaneous 138,000 

Other  minerals* 9,548 

Total  value $641,750- 

*Includes  natural  gas  and  soapstone. 

CALAVERAS. 

Ar(a:  1027  square  miles. 

Popukition:  6183  ( 1920  cen.sus). 

Location:  Ea.st-central  portion  of  state — ^Mother  Lode  district. 

Calavera.s  County  reported  production  of  12  different  minerals, 
valued  at  -l^l. 572.419  during  the  year  1924  as  compared  with  the  1923 
output  of  $1,498,119.  Gold,  copper,  and  silver  are  the  chief  mineral 
substances.  In  regard  to  total  value  of  mineral  output.  Calaveras 
stands  twenty-first  amoni:  the  counties  of  the  state,  and  fifth  in  gold. 
The  increa.se,  as  compared  with  1923,  is  due  mainly  to  copper. 

The  principal  mineral  resources  developed  and  undevelo{)ed  are: 
Asbestos,  chromite.  clay,  copper,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  limestone,  marble, 


STATISTICS   OF    AXNUAL    PRODTTCTION.  133 

mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  platinum  proup,  pyrite.  quartz  crystals, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
Commereial  output  foi"  li)24  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Copper 4,724,441  lbs.  $618,902 

Gold 853,961 

Mineral  water 1,400  gals.  139 

Silver 7,4 «:; 

Stone,  misc-ellaneous 83,250 

Other  minerals* 8,704 

Total  value $1,572,41!) 

♦Includes  pottery  clay,  gems  (quartz  crystals),  lead,  platinum,  silica  (quartz), 
soapstone. 

COLUSA. 

Area:  1140  square  miles. 

Pop u lat io u  .-9920  ( 1 920  census ) . 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley. 

Colusa  County  lies  largely  in  the  basin  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
Its  western  border,  however,  rises  into  the  foothills  of  the  Coast  Kanoe 
of  mountains,  and  its  mineral  resources — largely  undeveloi)ed — include 
coal,  chromite,  copper,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water,  pyrite. 
quicksilver,  sandstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  sul[)liur.  and  in  some  places 
traces  of  gold  and  silvei'. 

The  value  of  the  1924  production  wms  H^77.2(i7,  a  slight  incrctise  over 
1923  figures  of  sj^ir).! )()(),  giving  it  forty-ninth  place,  and  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,    miscellaneous    , $75,167 

Other  minerals 2,100 

Total  value $77,267 

CONTRA  COSTA. 

Area:  714  square  miles. 
Population:  53,889  (1920  census). 
Location:  East  side  of  San  Francisco  Bay. 

Contra  Costa,  like  Alameda  County,  lies  on  the  eastern  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay,  and  is  not  commonly  considered  among  the  mineral- 
producing  counties  of  the  state.  It  stands  sixteenth  on  the  list  in  this 
resi)ect,  however,  with  an  output  valued  at  $2,348,090  for  the  calendar 
year  1924.  Various  structural  materials  make  up  the  chief  items. 
including  brick,  cement,  limestone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Among 
the  others  are  asbestos,  clay.  coal,  uypsum.  manganese,  mineral  water, 
and  soapstone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  tile $327,225 

Stone,  miscellaneous 646,369 

Other  minerals* --  1,374,496 


Total  value $2,348,090 

•Includes  clay   (pottery),  cement,  limestone,  mineral  water. 


134  :^rI^■ERAL  indtstry  of  California. 

DEL   NORTE. 

-l/tu;  lU2-i  square  iuilf>. 
Population:  2759  (1920  census). 
Locatwn:  Extreme  northwest  corner  of  state. 
Transportation:    ]\Iotor.    wagon    and    mule    back;    steamer    fioih 
Crescent  City. 

Del  Xorte  almost  rivals  Alpine  County  in  regard  to  inaccessibility. 
Like  the  latter  county  also,  given  transportation  and  kindred  facilities, 
this  portion  of  the  state  presents  a  wide  field  for  development  aionii 
mining  lines  especially.  It  chief  mineral  resources,  largely  untouched, 
are  chromite.  copper,  gems.  gold,  irtsn.  platinum  eroup.  silver,  and 
miscellaneous  stone. 

The  1924  output  was  an  increa.se  over  the  figure  of  $34,027  in  1923, 
due  to  crushed  rock  used  on  highway  construction,  and  to  rock  used  on 
the  Crescent  City  harbor  jetty. 

Commercial  production  for  1924.  giving  it  twenty-sixth  place,  was 
as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold   $325 

Stone,  miscellaneous 721,72ii 

Other  minerals 22'?' 


Total  value $722,26^. 

EL  DORADO. 

Area:  1753  square  miles. 
Population :  6426   (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion  of  the  state,  northernmost  of  the 
^Mother  Lode  counties. 

El  Dorado  County,  which  contains  the  locality  where  gold  in  Cali- 
fornia was  first  heralded  to  the  Avorld,  conies  thirty-fifth  on  the  list  of 
coimties  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  total  mineral  production 
during  the  year  1924.  In  addition  to  the  segregated  figures  here  given, 
a  large  tonnage  of  limestone  is  annually  shipped  from  El  Dorado  for 
use  in  cement  manufacture,  and  whose  value  is  included  in  the  state 
total  for  cement.  The  increase  over  the  1923  figure  of  $216,065  was  due 
to  limestone. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  section,  many  of  them  undeveloped, 
include  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite.  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron, 
molybdenum,  limestone,  quartz  cry.stals,  quicksilver,  slate,  soapstone. 
silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Gold $28,207 

Limestone t 112,156  tons  322,995 

Silver 153 

Talc 1.498  tons  8.988 

.Stone,  miscellaneous "'en^ 

Other  minerals* 32,691 

Total  value $395, 5"2 

•Includes  copper  and  lime. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTIOX.  135 

FRESNO. 

Area:  5950  square  miles. 
Population:  128,779   (1920  ecMisus). 
Lncai'on:  Soutli-ceiil ral  portion  of  state. 

Fresno  County,  fifth  in  iniportanee  as  a  mineral  producer  anion<i' 
till'  counties  of  California,  repiu'ted  an  output  for  1924  of  ten  mineral 
siil)stanees,  with  a  total  value  of  $12,547,798.  an  increase  from  the 
rei)orted  1923  production,  which  was  worth  $4,883,331. 

The  bulk  of  the  above  is  derived  from  the  petroleum  production  of 
the  Coalin.i^a  field,  with  miscellaneous  stone  also  important. 

The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  many,  and,  aside  fiom 
crude  oil.  are  in  the  main  not  fully  developed.  They  include  asl)estos, 
barytes,  brick,  chromite,  copi)er,  gems,  gold,  graphite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  (piicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone 

Commercial  production  for  1924  ^^•as  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Bric-k  and  hollow  tile $95,014 

Gold 32,978 

Granite 60,447 

Natural  gas 1.430.7(iS   M    cu.    ft.  102,256 

Petroleum 10,156,405  bbls.  11,801,743 

Silver 190 

iStone,  miscellaneous 451,540 

Other  minerals 3,600 

Total  value __-        $12,547,798 

GLENN. 

Area:  1259  scpuire  miles. 
ropidafion:  11,853  (1920  census). 
Loeation:  "West  side  of  Sacramento  Valley. 

(Ilenn  County,  standing  tifty-first,  owes  its  ixj-sition  among  the 
mineral-producing  counties  of  the  state  mainly  to  the  presence  of  large 
deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  which  are  annually  worked,  the  product 
being  used  for  railroad  ballast,  et  •.  In  1917  and  ,1918,  chromite  was 
also  an  important  item.  In  the  foothills  in  the  western  portion  of  the 
county,  deposits  of  chromite.  copper,  manganese,  sandstone,  and  soap- 
stone  have  been  found. 

Commercial  production  for  ]!)24  was  as  follows,  being  a  decrease  from 
the  $113,282  of  the  previous  year: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $41,550 

HUMBOLDT. 

.1/7Y/;  3(i34  square  miles. 
J'op}iIaiio)) :  37,857  (li)20  censiis'l. 

Location:    Northwestern    portion    of    state,    lioi-dcring    on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Humboldt  Count\'  is  almost  entirely  mountainous,  transportation 
within  its  limits  being  very  largely  by  auto  and  wagon  road,  and  trail, 
and  until  recent  years  was  reached  from  the  outside  world  by  steamer 
onlv.     Th(>  eountv  is  rich  in  mineral  resources,  among  which  are  lu'ick. 


136  MINERAL    TXnrSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

ehromite,   coal,   clay,   copper,   irnld.    iron,   mineral   water,   natural  gas 
petroleum,  platinum,  .silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Eight  mineral  substances,  as  shown  by  the  table  given  below,  having] 
a  total  value  of  $-48.j,478  were  produced  in  1924.  as  compared  with  the 
1923  output  of  $43-4,706,  the  increase  being  due  to  the  large  amount] 
of  rock  being  used  in  jetty  construction  at  Humboldt  Bay  ( Eurekj 
Harbor).  Humboldt  ranks  thirty-fourth  among  the  counties  of  the 
state  for  the  year. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $1,26S 

Silver    ^^ 

Stone,  miscellaneous 476,44! 

Other  minerals* 7,75S 

Total  value $485,478 

♦Includes  brick,  pottery  clay,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  platinum. 

IMPERIAL. 
Area:  4089  square  miles. 
PopuMion:  iSMS  (1920  census). 
Location :  Extreme  southea.st  corner  of  the  state. 

During  1924  Imperial  County  produced  eight  mineral  substances 
having  a  total  value  of  $139,908.  a  decrease  from  the  1923  output  of 
$264,733.  Its  rank  is  forty-fifth.  This  county  contains  deposits  of 
cyanite,  gold.  g>'psum.  lead,  manganese,  marble,  p'limice,  salt,  silver, 
sodium,  and  strontium,  largely  undeveloped. 

Commercial    i)roduction    for    1924   was   as   follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $258 

Silver    1 

Stone,  miscellaneous 78,032 

Other  minerals* 61,617 

Total  value  $139,90^ 

♦Includes  brick,  gems    (dumortierite),  g>-psum,  pumice. 

INYO. 

Area:  10,019  .square  miles. 
Population:  7031  (1920  census). 

Location:  Lies  on  eastern  border  of  .state,  north  of  San  Bernardino 
County. 

Inyo,  the  second  largest  county  in  the  state,  and  containing  less  than 
one  inhabitant  per  square  mile,  is  extremely  interesting  from  a  mineral- 
ogical  point  of  view.  It  is  noted  that  because  of  the  fact  that  within  its 
borders  are  located  lioth  the  highest  point.  Blount  AVhitney  (elevation 
14.502  feet),  and  the  lowest  j^oint.  Death  Valley  (elevation  290  feet 
below  sea  level),  in  the  Fnited  States.  In  the  higher  mountainous 
sections  are  found  many  vein-forming  minerals,  and  in  the  lake  beds 
of  Death  Valley  saline  deposits  exist. 

Inyo's  mineral  production  during  the  year  1924  reached  a  value  of 
$2,110,075.  standing  twentieth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  this 
respect.  Twenty  different  mineral  substances  were  i)roduced.  The  192H 
value  was  $2,845,581.  the  decrease  lieinsr  due  mainly  to  lead.  Its 
mineral  resources  include  antimony,  asl^^stos.  barytes.  borates,  copper. 


STATISTICS   OK    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  137 

dolomite,  frem.s.  prold.  jrypsuni.  lead,  marble,  soda.  sidi)iiiir.  tale,  tuno;- 
sten,  and  zinc. 

Commercial    jtrodnction    for    T.)24    was    as   follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Copper 79.99n   lbs.  $10,479 

Dolomite 17,197   tons  .•{7.491 

Gold 19,977 

Lt-ad 4,813,718  lbs.  :;85,09S 

Silver ,  115,799 

Talc 5,942   tons  98,806 

Stone,   miscellaneous 12,500 

Other  minerals* 1,429,925 


Total  value $2,110,075 

♦Includes  alum,  borates,  building  .'^tone  (tuff),  fuller's  earth,  glauber  salt,  lime, 
I  limestone,  magnesium  sulphate,  pumice,  radio  galena  crystals,  soda  (ash  and 
1    bicarbonate),   tungsten   concentrates. 

KERN. 

Area:  8003  square  miles. 
Population:  54.843  (1920  cen.siis). 
Location:  South-central  portion  of  state. 

Kern  County,  because  of  its  immensely  productive  oil  fields,  for 
many  years  stood  preeminent  amon^  all  counties  of  California  in  the 
value  of  its  mineral  output,  the  exact  fi^nires  for  1924  beiufr  $74,164,451. 
Kern  was  surpassed  by  bfith  Los  Aiiiieles  and  Orange  counties  in  1923. 
but  by  Los  Angeles  only  in  1924.  for  which  petroleum  is  also  responsible. 
The  1923  mineral  output  foi-  this  county  was  worth  $41. SI 2.415.  The 
increase  was  due  to  the  higher  prices  for  crude  oil  of  all  grades,  and  to 
the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  wells  in  the  San  Joacpiiu  Valley  fields 
which  had  been  'shut  in'  owing  to  the  over-production  of  high-gravity 
oil  in  the  new  gu.sher  fields  of  the  Los  Angeles  Basin,  were  again  put  on 
production  in  1924.  During  1924.  sixteen  different  mineral  substances 
were  produced. 

Among  the  mineral  resources,  developed  and  undeveloped,  of  this 
section  are  antimony,  asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay,  copper,  fuller's 
earth,  gems.  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite,  marble, 
mineral  paint,  natural  gas.  petroleum,  potash,  salt,  silver,  soapstone. 
soda,  suli)hur,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial    production    for    1924    was   as   follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount 
Brick  and  clay    (potterv) 

Gold :_ 

Lime 8,130  tons 

Natural   gas 47,881.308   M  cu.   ft. 

Petroleum 61,175.405   bbls. 

Salt 10.506  tons 

Silver 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

Other  minerals* 


Value 

$23,058 

154,132 

96.SSH 

2.522.551 

69,572,934 

44,115 

35,902 

5,244 

1.709.635 

$74,164,451 

Total  value 

•Includes  ar.senic,  cement,  copper,  lead,  pumice,  sulphur. 

KINGS. 
Area:  1159  sciuare  iiiilcs. 
I'oijulation:  22.(131    (  1920  census  i. 
LocntitJii :  South-central  portion  of  the  state. 

Litth'  (lc\('b)pint'iit  has  taken   |>l;icr  in    KJTigs  ('((Uiit\'  along  iiiiufral 
lines  to  date.    Deposits  of  fuller's  cartli.  g\psiiiii.  mineral  paint,  natural 


138  MIXEKAIi    INDrSTKY    OF    fAI.lFOKXIA. 

e-as,  and  quicksilver,  of  inidcteniiiiKHl  extent,  liave  been  found  in  the 
eoiinty.  Some  drilling  for  oil  has  been  under  way,  but  there  has.  as 
yet,  been  no  coniinoreial  output  recorded. 

Tulare  Lake  is  in  Kinjrs  County,  thou^jh  now  laru'ely  drained,  and 
the  land  under  cultivation. 

In  fifty-seventh  place,  coniinercial  mineral  production  in  this  county 
for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Sub.stance  Amount  Value 

Natural  eras 1,480  M  cu.   ft.  $72.5 

LAKE. 
Area:  1278  square  miles. 
Population:  5542  (1920  census). 

Location:  About  fifty  miles  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay  and  the 
same  distance  inland  from  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

On  account  of  its  topography  and  natural  beauties.  Lake  County  is 
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Switzerland  of  America.  The  mineral 
resources  which  exist,  here  are  many  and  varied,  actual  production 
being  comparatively  small,  as  shown  by  the  table  below,  and  in  the  past 
composed  mainly  of  quicksilver  and  mineral  Avater.  Some  of  the  lead- 
ing minerals  found  in  this  section,  in  part  as  yet  undeveloped,  are 
borax,  chromite.  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  mineral  water, 
quicksilver,  silver,  and  sulphur. 

In  forty-seventh  place,  commercial  productiou  for  11I24  was  a^ 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  A'alue 

Mineral  water 66,420  gals.  $59,42:; 

Stone,  miscellaneous 22,833 

Other  minerals* 14,140 


\ 


Total  value $96,39C 

♦Includes  natural  gas  and  quicksilver. 

LASSEN. 
Area:  4531  scjuare  miles. 
Population:  8507  (1920  census). 
Location:  Northeast  portion  of  state. 

Lassen  County  is  one  of  the  little-explored  sections  of  California. 
Since  about  1912  a  railroad  traversing  the  county  north  and  south  has 
been  in  operation,  thus  affordiiiL:  opportunity  for  development  along 
mineral  and  other  lines. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  copper,  gems, 
gypsum,  gold,  silver,  and  sulphur.  In  the  past,  some  gold  had  been 
produced,  but  not  for  some  years,  until  1921,  when  the  yield  again 
iiecame  important.  In  fifty-second  place,  commercial  production  for 
1924  was  as  follows  : 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $2,250 

Silver    44 

Stone,  miscellaneous 35,614 

Total  value $37. 90S 


STATISTICS   OF   AXXL'AL   PRODUCTION.  139 

LOS  ANGELES. 

Area:  4067  square  miles. 

Population:  936,438  (1920  census). 

Location:  One  of  the  southwestern  eoast  eounties. 

^Mineral  production  in  Los  An^ieles  County  for  tlie  yeai-  1924 
amounted  in  value  to  if<.168.420,70:)  as  compared  with  the  1923  out!)ut. 
worth  $174,367,459.  This  accounts  f(!r  practically  45';  of  the  entire 
state  s  total  for  1924,  and  ranks  Los  Anaeles  County  tirst  in  tiie  state 
as  a  mineral  producer,  having  in  1923  passed  Kern  County  which  had 
been  leading  for  several  years.  The  advance  was  due  to  the  large 
increase  in  the  petroleum  yield,  and  also  in  part  to  an  increase  in  the 
output  of  bricks,  hollow  building  tile,  natural  gas.  and  miscellaneous 
stone.     The  slight  drop  in  1924  was  due  to  petroleum. 

Its  output  of  brick  and  tile  was  over  live  million  dollars,  and  that 
of  petroleum  amounted  to  over  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  million 
dollars.  Among  the  mineral  resources  may  be  noted  asphalt,  barytes, 
borax,  brick,  clay,  fuller's  eartli.  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth, 
limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  petroleum, 
salt,  glass-sand,  sandstone,  serpentine,  silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellan- 
eous stone.     Some  potash  has  been  obtained  from  kelp. 

Commercial  production  for  1924,  consisting  of  17  substances,  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                Amount  Value 

Brick 301,957  M  $5,030,259 

BuikUng  tile    (hollow) 46,941   tons  454,728 

Clav    (pottery) 84,065   tons  132,855 

Gold 751 

Mineral  water 1,889,285  gals  88,942 

Natural   gas 122,838,521   M   cu.    ft.  9,191,395 

Petroleum 119.027,428  bbls.  147,474,953 

Silver 5,515 

..*'.tone,  miscellaneous 5,923,329 

Other  minerals* 117,982 

Total  value -__      $168,420,709 

♦Includes  copper,  building  stone  (tuff),  diatomaceous  earth,  lead,  limestone,  rnagne- 
sium  chloride,  salt. 

MADERA. 

Area:  2112  square  miles. 

Population:  12,203  (1920  census). 

Location:  East-central  portion  of  state. 

]\radera  County  produced  six  ditt'erent  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1924,  having  a  total  value  of  $955,469,  as  compared  with  the 
1923  output  worth  .$518,035,  the  increase  being  due  to  granite.  This 
county  contains  deposits  of  copper,  gold,  granite,  iron,  lead,  molyb- 
denum, pumice,  silver,  and  building  stone. 

In  twenty-fourth  i)lace,  ('ommercial  ])ioductioii  for  1924  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                Amount  Value 

Copper 34,467  ibg.  $4,515 

Gold 3,208 

Granite 935,820 

Silver 176 

Stone,   miscellaneous 11,750 

Total  value $955,469 


I 


140  MINKIJATi    IXDT'STKY    OF    CALIKOHXIA. 

MARIN. 

Area:  529  s(|uare  miles. 

Population:  27,342  (.1920  census). 

Location:  Adjoins  San  Franciseo  on  the  noi-th. 

Mineral    production    in    .Marin    Count \-    dui'inu    1924    amounted    to 
*527.2;n,   ])ein<i-  a   decrease   from   the   1928  fifjure  of  .t(i88,8'81   due  to 
crushed  rock  aiul  hrick.    This  county  is  not  especially  prolific  in  miner- 
als, although  amonjr  its  resources  along  these  lines  are  brick,  gem.s,  man-  1 
L'anese,  mineral  water,  soapstone.  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  thirtieth  ])lace.  commercial  production  for  1924  was: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $356,035 

Otlier  minerals* 171,196 

Total    value $527,231 

♦Includes  brick,  pottery  clay,  mineral  water. 

MARIPOSA. 

Area:  1463  square  miles. 
Population:  2775  (1920  census). 

Location:   ]Most    southerly   of   the   ^Mother   Lode   counties.      East- 
central  portion  of  state.  . 

^Mariposa  County  is  one  of  the  distinctly  'mininu"  cnunties  of  the" 
state,  although  it  stands  but  forty-first  on  the  list  of  counties  in  regard 
to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1924  with  a  total  of  >|;234,707.  as 
compared  with  tlie  1923  iiL>tire  of  .^170,911.  the  increase  being  due  to 
irold  and  stone. 

Its  mineral  resources  are  varied:  among  the  more  important  items 
being  barytes.  copper,  gems,  gold.  lead,  marble,  silver,  slate,  soapstone. 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 

The  Yosemite  Valley  is  in  Mariposa  County. 

Commercial    production    for    1924   was   as   follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $182,099 

Silver   1,608 

Stone,  miscellaneous ; 48,000 

Other   minerals _-  3,000 


Total  value $234,707 

MENDOCINO. 

Area:  3453  square  miles. 
Population:  24.116  (1920  census). 

Location:  Joins  IIumbf)ldt  County  on  the  south  and  bounded  by 
the  Pacific  Ocean  on  the  west. 

^Mendocino's  annual  mineral  production  has  usually  been  snuill.  the 
1924  output  being  valued  at  >|^60,768.  ranking  it  fiftieth  among  the 
counties.     That  of  1923  was  worth  $53,410. 

Deposits  of  in  part  undeternuned  value  of  asbestos,  chromite,  coal, 
copper,  graphite,  magnesite,  and  mineral  water  have  been  found,  as 
well  as  traces  of  gold,  ]>latinum.  and  silver. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  141 

Commercial    prodiK-tion    for    1!)24    \v;is   as    follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  X'alue 

i;ric-k ."iSn   M       -  $7,125 

Stone,   miscellaneous 49,680 

I  itlier  minerals* 3,963 

Total  value $60,768 

•Includes  coal,  manganese,  natural  gas,  platinum. 

MERCED. 
Area:  1995  square  miles. 
Population:  24,579  (1920  census). 
Location:  About  the  geographical  center  of  the  state. 

Merced  County  as  a  whole  lies  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  and  it 
figures  as  one  of  the  lesser  mineral  producing  counties  of  the  state. 
The.  1924  mineral  output  was  valued  at  $87,603  compared  with  $235,680 
in  1923,  the  decrease  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone. 

Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  were  formerly  obtained  in  important 
amounts  by  dredging,  which  ceased  in  this  county  in  191 S,  though  a 
small  yield  from  other  sources  still  continues.  Undeveloped  deposits 
of  antimony,  inagnesite.  (juicksilver.  and  limestone  have  been  noted  in 
this  county  in  addition  to  the  foregoing. 

In  forty-eiglith  place,  commercial  production  during  11)24  was  ;is 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Clay  and  clay  products $72,933 

Gold    355 

Silver   1 

Stone,  miscellaneous 14,262 

Other  minerals* 52 

Total  value $87,603 

♦Includes  copper  and  lead. 

MODOC. 
Area:  3823  square  miles. 
Population :  ->425  ( 1920  census). 
Location:  The  extreme  northeast  comer  of  the  state. 

Modoc  County,  like  Lassen,  has  only  in  recent  years  had  the  l)enetit 
of  communication  with  the  outside  world  by  rail.  Among  its  known 
mineral  resources  are  clay.  coal,  gold,  iron,  (piicksilver.  salt,  and 
silver.  In  fifty-sixth  place,  eominercial  production  for  1924  was  as 
follows : 

Substance  Value 

Unapportioned*    $1,300 

•Includes  salt  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

MONO. 

And:  3030  square  miles. 

Population:  960  (.1920  census). 

Location:  Is  bordered  by  the  State  of  Nevada  on  the  east  and  is 

about  in  the  central  portion  of  tht>  state  measured  on  a  north 

and  south  line. 

Gold  mining  ha.s  been  carried  on  in  poi'tions  of  Mono  County  for 
manv  \ears.  although  taken  as  a  whole  it  lies  in  a  somewhat  inaccessible 


142  MIXERAr.    INDrsTRY    OF    CALIFORXIA. 

<?ou)itry  so  far  as  rail  transportation  is  coDCprned.     It  is  in  the  con 
tinnatinn  of  the  highly  iniueralizeri  belt  -which  was  noted  in  Inyo  Count\' 
and  contains  among  other  mineral  resources  baryte-s.  clay,  r-opper.  sold, 
limestone,  molyhdennm.  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  travertine. 

In  forty-si.xth  place,  conuncrcial  productiou  for  1!)24  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Gold $49,651 

Lead 32,458  lbs.  2,597 

Silver 6,472 

Stone,  miscellaneous 19,044 

Other  minerals* 48,927 

Total  value $126,571 

•Includes  copper,  onyx,  travertine,   salt,  sillimanite-andalusite. 

MONTEREY. 

Area:  3330  square  miles. 

Population:  27,980   (1920  census.) 

Location:  West-central  portion  of  state,  bordering  on  Pacific  Ocean. 

]\ronterey  County  produced  ten  mineral  substances  during  the  year 
1!)24.  having  a  total  value  of  $286,490.  as  compared  with  the  192:! 
output  worth  $222,022.  the  increase  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone. 
Its  mineral  resources  include  brick,  clay,  copper,  coal,  diatomaceous 
earth,  dolomite,  feldspar,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  gypsum,  limestone, 
mineral  water,  petroleum.  c|uicksilver,  glass-sand,  sandstone,  silver,  and 
miscellaneous  stone. 

In  fortieth  place,  commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Aanount  Value 

Clay    (pottery) 238   tons  $430 

Dolomite 1,240  tons  4,96ii 

Stone,  miscellaneous 239,847 

Other  minerals* 41,247 

Total  value ?286,49" 

♦Includes  diatomaceous  earth,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  salt,  shale  building  stone, 
silica   (g-lass-sand). 

NAPA. 

Area:  783  square  miles. 
Fopulation:  20,678  (1920  census). 

Location:  Directly  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay — one  of  the  'bay 
counties. ' 

Napa,  because  of  its  production  of  structural  and  industrial  mate- 
rials and  mineral  water,  stands  thirty-sixth  on  the  list  of  mineral- 
producing  counties  in  California.  Its  mineral  resimrces  include 
chromite,  coi)per,  gypsum,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  sand- 
stone, and  miscellaneous  stone.  In  the  past  this  county  has  been  one  of 
the  important  producers  of  (piicksilver. 

In  1924  the  value  of  the  output  increased  to  $359.26:)  over  the  1923 
figure  of  $351,592. 

Commercial    production    for    11(24    was   as   follows: 

Substance                                                                               Amount  Value 

Mineral  water 73,608  gals.  $53,391 

Stone,  miscellaneous 261,523 

Other  minerals* 44,351 


Total  value $359,26i 

•Includes  magnesite  and  quicksilver. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  143 

NEVADA. 

Area:  !J7-1  square  iiiiles. 

ropuhifion:  lO.SfiO  (1920  census). 

fjicofif))!:  North  of  Tijiko  ThIioc  on  the  eiistcni  lioi'der  of  tlie  state. 

>.'evacla,  one  of  tlie  inouutain  counties  of  ("alifornia,  for  some  years 
alternated  with  Amador  in  tlie  gold  lead,  but  both  were  passed  bv 
Yuba  in  1918-1921.  also  1923.  In  1922  and  1924  Nevada  led.  Nevada 
County  stands  thirteenth  on  the  list  in  regard  to  value  of  its  total 
mineral  output  with  a  figure  of  $2,945,267  as  compared  with  the  1923 
production  worth  $2,370,770.    The  increase  is  due  to  gold. 

While  this  county  actually  produces  mainly  gold  and  silver,  its 
resources  cover  a  wide  scope,  including  antimony,  asbestos,  barytes, 
bismuth,  chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  iron.  lead,  mineral  paint.,  pyi'ite, 
soapstone,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial    production    for    1924    was   as   follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $2,820,032 

Silver    • 39,252 

Stone,  miscellaneous 82,200 

Other  minerals* --  3,78.3 


^  Total  value $2,945,267 

*'       *InchKles  copper,  granite,  lead. 

ORANGE. 

Area:  795  square  miles. 

Population:  61,375  (1920  census). 

Location:  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  liorderin^-  Pacific  Ocean. 

Orange  County  is  one  of  the  many  in  California  which  on  casual 
inspection  appears  to  ))e  anything  but  a  mineral  producing  section.  It 
stood  for  several  years,  however,  as  the  second  county  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output,  on  account  of  its  highly 
productive   oil   fields.      It   was   passed   in   1922   by   Los   Angeles,   the 

1  credit  for  which  is  also  due  to  oil,  and  in  turn  Orange  passed  Kern 
County  in  1923.  but  dropped  l)ack  to  third  in  1924. 

'  This  county  shows  a  decrease  in  1924.  with  a  total  value  of  mineral 
products  of  $40,481,210,  compared  to  the  1923  output,  worth  $45,468,98'9 
due  to  petroleum  and  natural  gas.  Orange  pas.sed  Shasta  County  in 
1917,  which  previously  for  a  number  of  years  had  exceeded  all  other 
counties  in  California,  except  Kern. 

Aside  from  the  substances  actually  pi-oduced  and  noted  in  the  table 
below,  coal,  gysum.  iron,  infusorial  eartli.  sandstone,  and  tournuiline 
have  ])een  found  in  Orange  County. 

Commercial    produdiou    for    1!)24    was    as    follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick  and  clay   (pottery) $121,260 

Natural  gas 29,812,139   M   cu.    ft.  2.397,813 

Petroleum 31,661,283  bbls.  37,455,298 

Stone,   miscellaneous 505,932 

Other  minerals* 907 

Total  value $40,481,210 

♦Includes  copper,  lead,  silver. 


144  MINERAL    IXDl'STHY    OF    (  AI.IFORXIA. 

PLACER. 

Ana:  l:i!)")  sciuarc  miles. 

f'opidation:  '[f<.'>>^4  (1*>2()  ••e'lsns). 

Ijdcaiinn:  Kfi.stci'ii  hoi-dcr  of  state  directly  west  of  Lake  Talioe. 

Wliile  staiidiiii!  only  tliiity-third  on  the  list  of  mineral  ]>roduciuf( 
•  •ounties.  Plaeei-  contains  a  wide  variety  of  mineral  .suhstanees.  some 
of  which  have  not  ])een  commercially  exploited.  Its  leadinjr  products 
include  gold,  chromite.  granite,  copper,  and  clay.  Other  mineral 
resources  are  asbestos,  brick,  coal,  gems,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  mag- 
nesite,  manganese,  marble,  ({uartz  crystals,  gla.ss-sand,  silver,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone. 

Commercial  production  for  192-1  was  as  follows,  compared  to  a  total 
value  of  $405,975  for  the  preceding  year: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick   and   hollow   tile $186,053 

Clay    (pottei-v-) 97,670  tons  146.508 

Gold .■ 108.757 

Granite 19.155 

Silver 534 

.Stone,   miscellaneous 15,573 

Otlier  minerals* 15,600 


Total  value S492.180 

*lnflu(les  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  silica    (quartz'). 

PLUMAS. 

Area:  2594  si^uare  miles. 

Population :  5681  (]92(t  census). 

Location:  Northeastern  border  of  state,  south  of  Lassen  County. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  area  of  Plumas  County  lies  in  the  high 
mountains,  and  deposits  of  the  metals.  esi)ecially  gold  and  copper,  are 
found  there.  ^Mineral  production  for  1924  was  valued  at  $8,876,105, 
as  compared  with  the  1923  output,  worth  $3,784,262.  the  increase  being 
due  to  gold.  This  placed  the  county  eleventh  in  rank.  In  1919  Plumas 
passed  Shasta  in  the  copper  lead,  owing  to  the  Shasta  smelters  being' 
closed  down,  which  position  Plumas  still  retains. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are  chromite.  copper,  gold,  granite, 
iron.  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  molybdenum,  platinum,  silver,  and 
zinc. 

Commercial    production    for    1924    was   as   follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Copper 25,557,362  lbs  $3,348,015 

Gold 277,571 

Silver 24  7.569 

Other  minerals* 2,950 

Total  value $3,876,105 

*Includes  chromite  and  granite. 

RIVERSIDE, 

Area:  7240  square  miles. 
Population:  60.297  (1920  census). 
Location:  Southern  portion  of  state. 

Riverside  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  size  and  the  seventh  in 
regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1923.  AVithin  its  bor- 
ders are  included  mountain,  desert,  and  agricultural  land.    Its  mineral 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  145 

P  . 

resources  include  metals,  structural  and  iudustrial  materials  and 
salines,  some  of  the  more  important  being  brick,  cement,  clay,  coal, 
copper,  feldspar,  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese, 
magne.site,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  salt,  soapstone,  silver, 
miscellaneous  stone  and  tin.     In   point  of  variety  Riverside  County 

\  showed   eighteen   different  minerals  commercially  produced  in   1924. 
Tlie  increase  in  1924  over  the  1923  value  of  $7,098,853  was  due  to 

I  cement. 

Commercial  production  for  ]924  was  as  follows: 

\          Substance                                                                                -\mount  Value 

!  Brick  and  hollow  tile   $493,746 

IClav    (pottery) 121.193  ton.s  166,692 

Copper 8,899   lbs.  1,166 

Feldspar 2,205   tons  20,162 

Gold 1.070 

Granite 17.680 

Lead 26,817   lbs.  2.14.T 

Mineral  water ; 78,560  gals.  23,021 

Silica    (quartz) 3,160  tons  24,579 

Silver 581 

Stone,  miscellaneous 561,861 

Otlier  minerals* __ 4,195,541 


Total  value $5,508,244 

♦Includes  cement,  coal,  gypsum,  mica  schist. 

SACRAMENTO. 

Area:  9SS  scjuare  miles. 
Population:  90.978  (1920  census). 
Location:  North-central  i)orti()n  of  state. 

Sacramento  stands  .seventeenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  as  a 
mineral  producer,  the  output,  principally  gold,  for  1924.  being  valued 
at  $2,196,210.  as  compared  with  the  1923  production,  worth  $2,436,015. 
In  regard  to  gold  output  alone,  this  county  j-anks  fourtli.  bt^ng  exceeded 
only  l)y  Yuba.  Nevada  and  Amador  counties,  the. Sacramento  product 
coming  from  the  dredges.  Its  mineral  resources  include  brick,  clay, 
gold,  granite,  natural  gas.  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  tile $290,213 

Clay   (pottery) 1,750  tons  4,470 

Gold 1,150,687 

Granite 11,150 

Silver 1,753 

Stone,   miscellaneous 639,811 

Other  minerals* 98,126 


Total  value $2,196,210 

•Includes  natural  gas  and  platinum. 

SAN   BENITO, 

Area:  .1392  square  miles. 
Populaf.on:  8995  (1920  census). 
Location:  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Although  nineteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  re.irard  to 
value  of  total  mineral  production,  San  Benito  has  led  for  some  years 
in  one  important  branch  of  the  mineral  industry,  namely,  quicksilver. 
Cement  is  al.so  an  important  item. 

10—41922 


14(i  MiNEK'AL  ixnrsru'V   (H'  cai.ikoijma. 

Its  other  iiiiiicral  I'csoiii'ccs.  iiiaiiy  ol'  tliciii  luuleveloped.  iiicliule 
antimony,  aslicstos,  hitnminous  rock,  ehroinite,  coal,  dolomite,  {jenis. 
frypsnm,  limestone,  majrnesite.  mineral  water,  and  miscellaneons  ston(  . 

("ommei'cial    jtrodnction    fi;r    1!*24    was    as    follows: 

Subslaiicr                                                                                        Amount  Value 

Quicksilver 4,670   flasks  $320,758 

Stone,   miscellaneous-- :i69,.369 

Other  minerals* 1.554,476 

Total  value $;'.144,6f'3 

*Tnclu(les  asbestos,  cement,  coal,  dolomite,  magnesite,  mineral  water. 

SAN    BERNARDINO. 

Area:  20,.157  squaie  miles. 
Population:  73.401   (1920  censns). 
Location:  Southeastern  portion  of  state. 

San  Bernardino,  l)y  far  the  largest  county  in  the  state  in  area.  i-anks 
fourth  as  regards  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1924  with  a  total 
of  $12.()42,431,  as  compared  with  the  1928  total  of  -tl:',. 777.253.  The 
decrease  is  due  mainly  to  cement  and  silver. 

San  Bernardino  for  several  years  (except  1918)  has  led  all  other 
counties  in  the  state  in  point  of  variety  of  minei'als.  producing  commer- 
cially during  1924  a  total  of  21  different  substances.  This  couiity  also 
ranks  first  as  a  silver  producer  in  the  state,  from  the  mines  of  the 
Randsburg  district.  In  fact,  the  California  Rand  mine,  there,  has 
];een  the  largest  single  silver  producer  in  the  Tnited  States  for  the 
past  four  years. 

This  c(;unty.  consisting  largely  of  mountain  and  desert  country,  is 
highly  mineralized,  the  following  being  included  among  its  resources: 
Asbestos,  barytes.  borax,  brick,  cement,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold, 
granite,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  nitre,  potash,  .salt,  soapstone,  soda,  miscellaneous 
stone,  strontium,  talc,  tungsten,  vanadium,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                   Amount  Value 

Cement 4,354,119   bbl-s^,  $7,571,370 

Copper 17,667  lbs.  2,314 

Gold 187,573 

Lead 31,668  lbs.  2,533 

Limestone 14,375   tons  45,137 

Salt 29,699  tons  99,791 

Silver 1.531,598 

Talc 7,234   tons  125,926 

Stone,   miscellaneous 355.946 

Other  minerals* 2,720,243 

Total   value .$12,642,431 

'Includes  borates,  clay  (pottery),  calcium  chloride,  fuller's  earth,  gypsum,  lime, 
mineral  water,  x)etroleum,  potash,  soda   (trona),  tungsten  concentrates. 

SAN    DIEGO. 
Ar(a:  4221  sipiare  miles. 
Population:  1,12,248  ( 1920  census). 
Location:  Extreme  southwest  cornei-  of  stat(\ 

San  Diego  ranks  twenty-tliird  in  the  total  value  of  its  mineral  output 
and  gained  third  place  in  jioint  of  variet.v  with  a  record  of  eighteen 
different  connnercial  minerals  for  the  year.  The  value  for  1924  equaled 
^1,013,119,  as  compared  with  the  1923  output  worth  jf;821,776. 


STATISTICS    OF    AX.NL'AL    I'KODrcTION.  147 

In  1!>18  for  the  only  \uno  in  sovpral  yoars  there  was  no  production 
of  gems,  in  which  Ban  Dieuo  County  has  h'd  the  state.  Asich^  from 
minerals  connnercially  [n'oduced.  as  shown  helow,  San  Uieuo  County 
contains  occurrences  of  bismuth,  litiiia,  marl)le,  nickel,  soapstone,  and 
tin.     Potash  lias  been  pro(hiced  from  Uelp. 

A  development  of  recent  years  is  the  shipping  of  pdihh's  foi-  Lii-ind- 
ing  mills. 

Commercial  prf)ducti()n  for  li)24  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Brick  and  hollow  tile $232. ll.-? 

Clay    (pottery) 12.783   tons  36,941 

Feldspar 6,850  tons  47,950 

Gems 1,925 

Gold 4,830 

Granite 94,006 

Lithia 109   tons  2,269 

Mineral  water 107.097   gals.  8,642 

Silver 97 

Stone,   miscellaneous 379,094 

Other  minerals* 205,252 

Total   value $1,013,119 

*  Includes  arsenic,  fuller's  earth,  lime,   magnesium   chloride,   salt. 

SAN    FRANCISCO. 

Arra:  43  scjuare  miles. 

roi-ulafion:  506,676   (1920  census). 

►Surprising  as  it  may  appear  at  first  glance,  San  Francisco  County 
is  listed  ameng  the  mineral  producing  sections  of  the  state,  actual 
production  consisting  mainly  of  crushed  rock,  sand  and  gravel.  Small 
rpiantities  of  various  valuable  mineral  substances  are  found  here, 
including  cinnabar,  gypsum,  lignite,  and  magnesite.  none,  however,  in 
paying  (piantiti(>s.    Some  [)umii'e  has  been  produced. 

In  foi'ty-third  plac(\  commercial  production  for  1!)24  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $150,258 

SAN   JOAQUIN. 

Ai<a:  1448  .square  miles. 
ropulation:  79.905  (1920  census). 
Location:  Central  portion  of  state. 

San  .Joaipiiii  County  reported  a  mineral  production  for  theycai-  1924 
liaving  a  total  value  of  .4;«i02.500,  as  comi)ared  with  the  .1923  output 
worth  $811,229. 

Comparativelx'  few  mineral  substances  are  found  here,  the  chief  ones 
being  brick,  clay,  manganese,  natural  gas,  glass-sand,  and  miscellaneous 
stone.  (Jold,  platinum,  and  silver  have  been  obtained  by  dredging  in 
the  Mokelumne  River,  which  forms  the  boundary  l)etween  this  county 
and  Amador  on  the  northeast. 

In  twenty-ninth  i)lace.  connneicial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick 14.936  M  $462, 6S8 

Stone,   miscellaneous 83.874 

Other  minerals* 55.938 

Total   value $602,500 

♦Includi's  manganese  ore  and  natural  gas. 


148  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP'    CALIFORNIA. 

SAN    LUIS   OBISPO. 

Area:  3334  square  miles. 
Population:  21.893  (1920  census). 

Location:  Bordered  by  Kern  County  on  the  east  and  the  Paeific 
Ocean  on  the  west. 

The  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  San  Luis  Obispo  County 
in  1924  was  $317,779.  as  compared  with  the  1923  output,  worth  $145.24*1, 
the  increase  being  due  to  miscellaneous  stone  and  sodium  sulphate. 
Among  its  mineral  resources,  both  developed  and  undeveloped,  are 
asphalt,  bituminous  rock,  brick,  chromite,  coal,  copper,  diatomaeeous 
earth,  gypsum,  iron,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water,  onyx,  petroleum, 
quicksilver,  soda,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  thirty-eighth  place,  commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                Amount  Value 

Brick 2,033   M  $35,987 

Petroleum 31,222  bbls.  30,972 

Stone,  miscellaneous 113,384 

Other  minerals* - 137,436 


Total  value $317,779 

♦Includes  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  quicksilver,  sodium  sulphate. 

SAN    MATEO. 

Area:  447  square  miles. 

Population:  36.781  (1920  census). 

Location:  Peninsula,  ad.joined  by  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 

San  Mateo's  most  important  mineral  pioducts  are  stone  and  salt,  the 
last-named  being  derived  by  evaporation  fiom  the  waters  of  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay.  The  total  value  of  all  mineral  production  during  1924 
equaled  $302,171,  as  compared  with  the  1923  tigures  of  $329,816.  the 
decrease  being  due  to  stone. 

Small  amounts  of  barytes.  chromite,  infusorial  earth,  and  quii-ksihvr 
liave  been  noted  in  addition  to  the  items  of  economic  value  given  IWow. 

Bricks  have  also  been  produced  commercially. 

In  thirty-ninth  place,  commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Salt 54,258  tons  .?205,176 

Stone,  miscellaneous 75,078 

Other  minerals* 21,917 

Total  value $302,171 

♦Includes  gems,  magnesium  chloride,  petroleum,  potash. 

SANTA   BARBARA. 

Area:  2740  square  miles. 
Population:  41,097  (1920  census). 

Location:    Southwestern    portion    of    state,    adjoining    San    Luis 
Obispo  on  tlie  south. 

Santa  Barbara  County  owes  its  position  of  eighth  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  its  mineral  output  to  the  presence  of  productive  oil  tields 
within  its  boundaries.    The  total  value  of  its  mineral  production  during 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  149 

the  year  1924  was  $5,159,740,  as  compared  with  the  1923  output  of 
$5,005,872,  and  included  ten  different  mineral  substances. 

Aside  from  the  mineral  substances  listed  below,  Santa  Barbara 
County  contains  asphalt,  diatomaceous  earth,  gilsonite,  gypsum,  mag- 
nesite,  and  quicksilver  in  more  or  less  abundance. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Clay  and  clay  products $2,020 

Natural  gas 1,643,355   M  cu.   ft.  158,836 

Petroleum 2,905,181  bbls.  3.009,768 

Stone,  miscellaneous 75,305 

Other  minerals* 1,913,811 

Total  value $5,159,740 

*TncUules  bituminous  rock,  diatomaceous  earth,  mineral  water,  shale  oil. 

SANTA  CLARA. 

Area:  1328'  square  miles. 
Population:  100,588  (1920  census). 
Location :  West-central  portion  of  state. 

Santa  Clara  County  reported  a  mineral  output  for  1924  of  ij^l. 150.401. 

as  compared  with  the  1923  figures  of  $1,320,393. 

i       This  county,  lying  largely  in  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  contains 

i  a  Avide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  including  brick,  chromite,  clay, 

limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  water,  petroleum,  quicksilver, 

soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  twenty-second  place,  commercial  production  for  1924  was  as 
follows : 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Brick 24,271  M  $217,172 

Clay    (pottery) 5,341  tons  5,666 

Petroleum 14,417  bbls.  20,481 

Stone,   miscellaneous 259,023 

Other  minerals* 648,059 

Total  value $1,150,401 

♦Includes  limestone,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  quicksilver. 


I 


SANTA  CRUZ. 

Area:  435  square  miles. 
Population:  26,269  (1920  census). 

Location:    Borderiny-    Pacific    Ocean,    just    south    of    San    Mateo 
Countv. 


The  mineral  output  of  Santa  Cruz  County,  a  portion  of  which  is 
itemized  below,  amounted  to  a  total  value  of  $4,339,233.  criving  the 
county  a  standing  of  tenth  among  all  others  in  the  state  in  this  regard. 

The  increase  over  the  1923  figure  of  $4,225,905  is  due  to  cement. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Sub.stance  Amount  Value 

Lime 12,783  tons  $212,540 

Stone,  miscellaneous 29,217 

Other  minerals* 4,097,476 

Total  value $4,339,233 

♦IncUifles  bituminous  rock,  cement,  limestone,  potash. 


150  MINERAL    IXDUSTRY    OF    CALIKOKXIA. 

SHASTA. 

Ana:  'SiioS  s(ni;iit'  iiiik's. 
Population:  18.311  (1920  eeiisns  ) . 
Locat'on:  Xortli-ecntral  portion  of  st;itf. 

Sha-sta  County  stuod  ninth  in  California  anion^i'  tlu^  mineral  pre 
dncino-  counties  for  1!)24.  with  an  o\it|)ut  valued  at  $4,754,664,  as  con 
pared  with  the  li>28  production  worth  .tl.5();l887,  the  increase  being  du 
to  copper. 

The  marked  decrease  in  1918-1921  was  due  to  the  t'allint^  off  in  th 
output  of  copper,  the  large  plants  of  the  Mammoth  and  ^lonntai 
copper  companies  being  shut  down.  Not  taking  petroleum  into  accoun 
Shasta  for  a  lunnber  of  years  led  all  of  the  counties  l)y  a  wide  margin 
but  in  1919-1923  was  passed  by  San  Hernardino,  Plumas,  Yuba.  Iny{ 
Sacramento,  Nevada,  and  Amador,  among  the  'metal'  counties,  tlioug 
by  only  San  Bernardino  of  that  group  in  1924. 

Shasta's  mineral  resources  include  asbestos,  barytes,  brick,  chromite 
coal,  copper,  gold,  iron,  lead,  lime,  limestone,  mineral  water,  nu)lyb- 
denum.  pyrite,  silver,  soapstone.  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc. 

Lassen  Peak  is  located  in  southeastern  Shasta  County. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Copper 21.109,958  lbs.  $2,765,405 

Gold 346,625 

I>ead 6,615  lbs.  52{ 

Limestone 28,097   tons  36,480* 

Platinum 27  fine  oz.  3,361 

Silver 343,402 

Stone,  miscellaneous 587,637 

Other  minerals* 671,228 

Total   value $4,754,661 

*Includes  asbestos,  coal,  diatomaceous  earth,  iron  ore,  pyrites,  zinc. 

SIERRA. 

Area:  92^  square  miles. 

Bopulation:  1783   (1920  census). 

Location:  Eastern  border  of  state,  just  north  of  Nevada  County. 

Sierra  County  reported  a  mineral  production  of  $812,476,  mainly  of 
gold  and  silver,  during  the  year  1924,  as  compared  with  the  1923  output, 
worth  $886,610,  the  decrease  being  due  to  gold.  Considering  gold  output 
alone  this  county  stands  si.xth  ;  and  as  to  total  mineral  yield  twenty-fifth. 

Aside  from  the  metals  itemized  below.  Sierra  County  contains 
deposits  of  asbestos,  chromite.  copper,  iron.  lead,  platinum,  serpentine, 
and  tale. 

Commercial  lu-oduction  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $799,276 

Silver 5,198 

Stone,  miscellaneous 8.000 

Other  minerals 2 

Total  value $812,476 

SISKIYOU. 
Area:  6256  stpuire  miles. 
Poindaiion:  18.545   (1920  census). 

Locafioii:  Kxti'cme  north-cenri'al  portion  of  state,  next  to  Oregon, 
boundar\'. 


Siski\on.  fifth   counix-   in   Califoi'iiia   in   I'cgard  to  size,  located  in 


STATISTICS   OF    AXXrAI.    PKODrtTIOX.  151 

liiirlily  iiiiiieralized  ami  iiiountaiiious  couiitry,  ranks  forty-fourth  in 
I'i'uard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  onti)ut  for  W'2-i. 

Altliougli  this  county  is  traversed  l)y  a  transcontinental  railroad  in  a 
north  and  south  line,  the  mineral  bearinu'  sections  are  almost  without 
exception  far  from  transportation  and  other  facilities.  A  large  i)ai-t 
of  the  county  is  accessible  by  trail  only.  Future  development  and 
exploitation  will  increase  the  ])roductiveness  of  this  part  of  the  state 
to  a  considerable  degree. 

Mount  Shasta  is  located  in  Siskiyou  County. 

Among  Siskiyou's  mineral  resources  are  chromite.  clay.  coal,  cop- 
per, gems,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  nmrble.  mineral  water. 
j)umice,  quicksilver,  sandstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $63,57(1 

Mineral  water 6,100 

Silver    296 

Stone,  miscellaneous 67,787 

Otlier  minerals* 3,034 


Total  value $140,787 

♦Includes  coal,  limestone,  lime,  platinum. 

SOLANO. 
Area:  822  S({uare  miles. 
PopuJdf ion. ■  -^0,(y02  (1920  censusi. 
Location:  Touching  San  Francisco  Hay  on  the  northeast. 

Solano,  while  mostly  valle\'  land,  produced  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1924  to  the  total  value  of  ^8.089.475.  ranking  twelfth  among 
the  counties  of  the  state,  the  decrease  from  the  1928  figures  of  .t'187(i.88.5 
being  due  to  cement. 

Among  her  mineral  resources  are  brick,  cement,  clay,  fuller's  earth, 
limestone,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  onyx,  (piicksilver,  salt,  and  mis- 
cellaneous stone. 

Commercial  i)r()(luctioii  for  l!i24  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Value 

.^hme,  miscellaneous $117,475 

Other  minerals* 2,972,000 


Total  value $3,089,475 

*  Includes  cement,  mineral  water,  onyx. 

SONOMA. 
Art  a:  1577  scpiare  miles: 
Popiilni-on:  51.9!)()  (1920  census). 

Loiiiiion:  South    of   Mciidoi-ino   County,   bordering  on   the   Pacific 
Ocean. 

Sonoma  ranked  forty-second  aiiionii  the  counties  of  California  during 
the  year  1924,  with  a  mineral  production  of  ;i<172,()51.  as  conijiared  with 
its  192;{  output  of  $227,812.  More  |)aving  blocks  have  been  turned  out 
here  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  state,  but  this  industry  has  now 
l)ractically  ceased,  owing  to  the  construction  of  smooth-surface  pave- 
ments both  in  the  cities  and  on  the  hiLdiways. 

.Vmong  Sonoma's  mineral  resources  are  brick,  chromite,  clay,  co|)pei-. 
-;riil)liite.  infusorial  eai'th.  magnesite.  maniranese.  marble,  mineral  i»aiiit. 
mineral  water.  (|uicksilver.  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


Value 

$8,002 

60.840 

101.009 

2.200 

1172.051 

152  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance  Amount 

Mineral  water 31.003  gals. 

Quicksilver 867  flasks 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

Other   minerals 

Total  value 

STANISLAUS. 

Area:  1450  square  miles. 

Populatwn:  -43,557  (192U  census). 

Location:  Center  of  state,  bounded  on  south  by  Pierced  County. 

Gold  has  usually  been  the  chief  mineral  product  of  Stanislaus  County, 
but  it  was  exceeded  in  1918-1919  by  mansranese,  and  in  1921-1923  by 
miscellaneous  .stone.  Brick,  clay,  gypsum,  mineral  paint,  quicksilver. 
and  silver  are  found  here  to  some  extent  as  well.  This  county  for  1924 
ranks  thirty-seventh  in  the  state  in  regard  to  value  of  minerals,  wit! 
an  output  of  $345,138.  as  compared  with  $445,515  in  1923,  the  decrea- 
being  due  to  magnesite  and  miscellaneous  stone,  though  there  was  an 
increase  in  gold  yield.  Gold,  platinum,  and  silver  are  obtained  mainh 
by  dredging. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Gold    $196,019 

Silver   773 

Stone,  miscellaneous 118,050 

Other  minerals* 30,296 

Total  value I345.13S 

♦Includes  magnesite,  manganese  ore,  mineral  paint,  platimmi. 

SUTTER. 

Area:  608  square  miles. 
Population:  10,115  (1920  census). 

Location:  Bounded  by  Butte  County  on  the  north  and  Sacrament. 
on  the  south. 

Sutter  is  one  of  only  two  counties  in  the  state  which  for  a  number  of 
years  reported  no  commercial  output  of  some  kind  of  mineral  sul - 
stance.  In  1917  some  crushed  rock  was  taken  out,  from  the  MarysvilL 
Buttes,  but  there  was  no  production  in  1918-1919.  There  has  been 
some  utilization  of  natural  gas.  The  1924  mineral  yield  was  valued  at 
*97,  being  concealed  under  'unapportioned.*  Both  clay  and  coal  exist 
here,  but  deposits  of  neither  mineral  have  been  placed  on  a  productive 
basis. 

TEHAMA.  J 

Area:  2893  square  miles.  \ 

Population:  12,882   (1920  census). 

Location:   Xorth-eentral   portion    of   the   state,    bounded   on   the 
north  by  Shasta. 

Tehama  stands  fifty-third  among  the  mineral  producing  counties  of 
the  state  for  1924  when  its  output  was  valued  at  $34,454.  as  compared  . 
with  the  1923  yield  worth  $6,216.  the  increase  being  due  to  stone.        j 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  153 

Among   its   mineral   resources   are   listed   brick,    chromite,  copper, 
ijjold,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  water,  salt,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
The  1924  yield  was  distributed  as  follows : 

Substance  Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous $26,054 

Other  minerals* 8,400 

Total  value $34,454 

•Includes  brick  and  chromite. 


I 


TRINITY. 

Area:  3166  square  miles. 
I'opulation:  2551   (1920  eensiis). 
Location:  Nortliwestei'n  portion  of  state. 

Trinity,  like  its  neighbor,  Siskiyou  Count\',  rec^uires  transportation 
facilities  to  further  the  development  of  its  many  and  varied  mineral 
resources.  Deposits  of  asbestos,  barytes,  chromite,  copper,  gold,  mineral 
water,  platinum,  quicksilver,  silver,  and  building  stone  are  known  here, 
but  with  the  exception  of  gold,  chromite,  copper,  quicksilver,  and  plati- 
num, very  little  active  production  of  these  mineral  substances  has  been 
made  as  yet.  The  1924  output  of  $509,344  shows  a  decrease  from  the 
1923  figure  of  $677,174,  due  to  gold,  giving  the  county  rank  of  thirty- 
first  for  the  year. 

Substance  Amount  Value 

Copper 550,000  lbs.  $72,050 

Gold 422,2  81 

Platinum 11  fine  oz.  1,839 

Silver 10,934 

Stone,   miscellaneous 2,240 


Total  value $509,344 

TULARE. 

Area:  4856  square  miles. 
Population:  59,031   (1920  census). 

Location:  Bounded  by  Inyo  on  the  east,  Kern  on  the  south,  Fresno 
on  the  north. 

Tulare  stands  thirty-second  on  the  list  of  mineral  producing  counties, 
the  increase  over  the  1923  value  being  due  mainly  to  miscellaneous  stone. 
This  county's  mineral  resources,  among  others,  are  brick,  clay,  copper, 
feldspar,  graphite,  gems,  limestone,  magnesite.  marl)le,  quartz,  glass- 
sand,  soapstone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc.  Tulare  for  a  number 
of  years  led, the  state  in  magnesite  output,  except  in  1918  wlien  it  was 
passed  by  Napa  County,  and  in  1921-1924  by  Santa  Clara. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                Amount  Value 

Magnesite 21,203  tons  $271,830 

Natural  gas 1,080  M  cu.  ft.  540 

Stone,  miscellaneous 80,411 

Other  minerals* 145,893 

Total  value $498,674 

*  Includes  brick  and  hollow  tile,  granite,  limestone. 


15^  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

TUOLUMNE. 
Area:  2190  s(iuaie  mile.s. 
PofAdation:  7768  (1920  census). 
Location:  East-central  portion  of  state — .Alotlier  Lode  District. 

Tuolumne  ranks  twenty-eijrhth  among  counties  of  the  state  relative 
to  its  total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1924.  This  county  ranks  first 
as  a  producer  of  marble  in  the  state.  The  decrease  in  the  vear's  valua- 
tion to  $62^^.156  for  1924  from  the  1923  figure  of  .t670.362  was  due  to 
gold.  lime,  and  marble. 

C'hromite.  clay,  copper,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  marlile.  mineral  paint, 
jilatinuuL  soapstone.  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone  are  among  its 
mineral  resources. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Gold $255,99 

Limestone S.515  tons  19,9i 

Silver I.IC 

Stone,   miscellaneous 12. 5C 

Other  minerals* 339.57 

Total  value $629,15 

•Includes  clay,  dolomite,  granite,  lime,  marble. 

VENTURA. 
Area:  1878  square  miles. 
Population:  28.724  n920  census  >. 
Location:    Southwestern    portion    of   .state,    bordering   on    Pacific 
Ocean. 

Ventura  is  the  sixth  county  in  the  state  in  respect  to  the  value 
its  mineral  production  for  1924,  the  exact  figure  being  $6,089,394.  a 
compared  with  the  output  for  1923.  worth  $4,679,684.  the  increase  beinj 
due  to  higher  petroleum  prices. 

The  highest  gravity  petroleum  produced  in  the  state  is  found  here 

Among  its  other  mineral  resources  are  asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay 
mineral  water,  natural  gas.  sand.stone.  and  miscellaneous  .stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1924  was  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                    Amount  Value 

Natural  gas 5.995.76"  M  cu.  ft.  5633.3! 

Petroleum 3.95S.010  bbls.  5.279.91 

Stone,  miscellaneous li3,33 

Other  minerals* -."2 

Total  value ?6.ti89,39 

•Includes  limestone  and  sandstone. 

YOLO. 
^4rfa;  1014  sipiare  miles. 
Population:  17.105   U920  census). 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley,  bounded  by  Sutter  on  the  ea.st  an^ 
Colusa  on  the  north. 

The  mineral   production   fr<iiu   Yulo   County   duriuir  the  year  192j 
consisted  mainly  of  miscellaneous  stone,  valued  at  $15,800,  ranking 
in   fifty-fourth   place.      Deposits   of  \indeterrained   value  of   iron   auj 
.sandstone  have   been   discovered   within   the   confines   of  this  coiint^ 
Quicksilver  has  also  been  produced. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PKODUt  TION. 


155 


YUBA. 
Area:  639  square  miles. 
Population:  10,375  (.1920  ceiisiisi. 

Locution:   Lies   west    of   Sierra    and    Nevada    counties:    soutJi    of 
Plumas. 

Yuba  is  eiiihteentli  of  the  mineral  pnuhu-ing  counties  of  the  state, 
and  third  in  reyard  to  gold  outfjut  for  lf)24,  being  pa.^sed  by  Xevada 
and  Amador  counties  in  that  metal.  Iron  and  clay  deposits  have  been 
reported  in  this  county  aside  from  the  following  commercial  production 
shown  for  the  year  1924.  The  decrease  from  the  1923  figure  of 
$3,391,129  was  due  mainly  to  gold  obtained  by  the  dredgers,  which 
also  yield  silver  and  platinum,  and  also  due  in  part  to  .sand.  The  1921 
dredge  yield  of  gold  Avas  a  record  for  the  county. 

The  li)24  production  of  Yuba  County  was  distributed  as  follows: 

Substance                                                                                         Amount  Value 

Gold $1,995,434 

Platinum 7:i   fine   oz.  8,773 

Stone,   miscellaneous 4,461 

Other  minerals 181,113 

100 

Total   value $2,190,181 


156  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

APPENDIX. 


MINING  BUREAU  ACT. 

Chapter   679. 

[Stats.  1913.] 

An  act  establishing  a  state  mining  bureau,  creating  the  office  of  state  mineralogist, 
fixing  his  salary  and  prescribing  his  powers  and  duties;  providing  for  the 
employment  of  officers  and  employees  of  said  bureau,  making  it  the  duty  of 
persons  in  charge  of  mines,  mining  operations  and  quarries  to  make  certain 
reports,  providing  for  the  investigation  of  mining  operations,  dealings  and 
transactions  and  the  prosecution  for  defrauding,  swindling  and  cheating  therein, 
creating  a  state  mining  bureau  fund  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  this  act  and  repealing  an  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau, 
and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the  direction,  man- 
agement and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment, duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the 
duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  and  all  acts 
amendatory   thereof   and    supplemental    thereto    or    in    conflict    herewith. 

[Approved   June   16,   1913.      In   effect   August   10.    1913.] 

The  people  of  the  State  of  California  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  There  is  hereby  created  and  established  a  state  mining  bureau.  The 
chief  officer  of  such  bureau  shall  be  the  state  mineralogist,  which  office  is  hereby 
created. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  of  the  State  of  California  and  he  is 
hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  citizen  and  resident  of  this  state,  having  a  practical 
and  scientific  knowledge  of  mining,  to  the  office  of  state  mineralogist.  Said  state 
mineralogist  shall  hold  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  governor.  He  shall  be  a  civil 
executive  officer.  He  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  same  oath  of  office  as  other 
state  officers.  He  shall  receive  for  liis  services  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars 
(.?300)  per  month,  to  be  paid  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
salaries  of  other  state  officers.  He  shall  also  receive  his  necessary  traveling 
expenses  when  traveling  on  tlie  business  of  his  office.  He  shall  give  bond  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000). 
said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  governor  of  the   State  of  California. 

Sec.  3.  Said  state  mineralogist  shall  employ  competent  geologists,  field  assist- 
ants, qualified  specialists  and  office  employees  when  necessary  in  the  execution  of  his 
plans  and  operations  of  the  bureau,  and  fix  their  compensation.  The  said  employees 
shall  be  allowed  their  necessary  traveling  expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of 
said  department  and  shall  hold  office  at  the  pleasure  of  said  state  mineralogist. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  state  mineralogist  to  make.  facUitate,  and 
encourage,  special  studies  of  the  mineral  resources  and  mineral  industries  of  the 
state.  It  shall  be  his  duty  :  to  collect  statistics  concerning  the  occurrence  and  pro- 
duction of  the  economically  important  minerals  and  the  methods  pursued  in  making 
their  valuable  constituents  available  for  commercial  use ;  to  make  a  collection  of 
typical  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  and 
commercial  importance,  such  collection  constituting  the  museum  of  the  state  mining 
bureau  ;  to  provide  a  library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  bearing  upon  the  mineral 
industries,  and  sciences  of  mineralogy  and  geology,  and  arts  of  mining  and  metal- 
lurgy, such  library  constituting  the  library  of  the  state  mining  bureau  ;  to  make  a 
collection  of  models,  drawings  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  appliances  used 
in  mining  and  metallurgical  pi-ocesses ;  to  preserve  and  so  maintain  such  collections 
and  library  as  to  make  them  available  for  reference  and  examination,  and  open  to 
public  inspection  at  reasonable  hours;  to  maintain,  in  effect,  a  bureau  of  information 
concerning  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state,  to  consist  of  such  collections  and 
library,  and  to  arrange,  classify,  catalogue,  and  index  the  data  therein  contained,  in 
a  manner  to  make  the  information  available  to  those  desiring  it ;  to  issue  from  time 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  157 

to  time  such  bulletius  as  he  may  deem  advisable  conceruiug  the  statistics  aud  tech- 
nology of  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state. 

Sec.  5.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager 
or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of  whatever  kind  or  character, 
within  the  state,  to  forward  to  the  state  mineralogist,  upon  his  request,  at  his  office 
not  later  than  tlie  thirtieth  day  of  June,  in  each  year,  a  detailed  report  upon  forms 
which  will  be  furnished  showing  the  character  of  the  mine,  the  number  of  men 
then  employed,  the  merhod  of  working  .«uch  mine  aud  the  general  condition  thereof. 
the  total  mineral  production  for  the  past  year,  and  such  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent, 
manager  or  other  person  in  clmrge  of  any  mine  within  the  state  must  furnish 
whatever  information  relative  to  such  mine  as  the  state  mineralogist  may  from 
time  to  time  require  for  the  projier  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Any  owner, 
lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager  or  otiier  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of 
whatever  kind  or  character  ^^■ithiu  the  state,  who  fails  to  comply  with  the  above 
provisions  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a   misdemeanor.* 

Sec.  6.  The  state  mineralogist  now  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state 
mineralogist  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state  mineralogist  as  in  this 
•act  provided  until  the  appointment  and  qualification  of  his  successor  as  in  this  act 
provided. 

Sec.  7.  The  said  state  mineralogist  shall  take  possession,  charge  and  control  of 
the  offices  now  occupied  and  used  by  the  board  of  trustees  and  state  mineralogist 
and  the  museum,  library  and  laboratory  of  the  mining  bureau  located  in  San  Fran- 
cisco as  provided  for  by  a  certain  act  of  the  legislature  approved  ^larch  23.  1893. 
and  hereafter  referred  lo  in  section  fourteen  hereof,  and  shall  maintain  such  offices, 
museum,  library  aud  laboratory  for  the  purposes  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  8.  Said  state  mineralogist  or  qualified  assistant  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  at  any  time  to  enter  or  examine  any  and  all  mines,  quarries,  wells,  mills, 
reduction  works,  refining  works  and  other  mineral  properties  or  working  plants  in 
this  state  in  order  to  gather  data  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  The  state  mineralogist  shall  make  a  biennial  report  to  the  governor  on 
or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September  next  preceding  the  regular  session  of  the 
legislature. 

Sec.  10.  All  moneys  received  by  the  state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof 
(except  such  as  may  be  paid  to  them  by  the  state  for  disbursement)  shall  be 
receipted  for  by  the  state  mineralogist  or  other  officer  authorized  by  liim  to  act 
in  his  place  aud  at  least  once  a  month  accounted  for  by  him  to  the  state  controller 
and  paid  iuto  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  a  fund  which  is  hereby  created  and 
designated  "state  mining  bureau  fund."  All  moneys  now  in  tlie  possession  of  tlie 
state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof  received  from  any  source  whatsoever, 
shall  be  immediately  paid  over  to  the  state  mineralogist  aud  by  him  accounted  for 
to  the  controller  and  paid  iuto  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  said  fund.  Saiti 
fund  shall  be  used  and  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  use  of  said  bureau  in  carrying 
out  the  purposes  of  this  act. 

Sec.  11.  The  said  st-ate  mineralogist  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
receive  on  behalf  of  this  state,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  state  mining  bureau, 
gifts,  bequests,  devises  and  legacies  of  real  or  other  property  and  to  use  the  same  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  donors,  and  if  no  instructions  are  given  by  said 
donors,  to  manage,  use,  and  dispose  of  the  gifts  and  bequests  and  legacies  for  the 
best  interests  of  said  state  mining  bureau  and  in  such  nu\nner  as  he  may  deem 
proper. 

Sec.  12.  Tlie  state  mineralogist  may.  whenever  he  deems  it  advisable,  prepare  a 
special  collection  of  ores  and  minerals  of  California  to  be  sent  to  or  used  at  any 
world's  fair  or  exposition  in  order  to  display  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  state. 

Sec.  13.  The  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  empowered  to  fix  a  price  upon  and  to 
dispose  of  to  tlie  public,  at  such  price,  any  and  all  publications  of  the  state  mining 
bureau,  including  reports,  bulletins,  maps,  registers  or  other  publications,  such  price 
shall  approximate  the  cost  of  publication  and  distribution.  Any  and  all  sums 
derived  from  such  disposition,  or  from  gifts  or  bequests  made,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided must  be  accounted  for  by  said  state  mineralogist  and  turned  over  to  the 
state  treasurer  to  be  cre<lited  to  tlie  mining  bureau  fund  as  provided  for  in  section 


*Seo.  19  of  the  Penal  Code  of  California  provides:  "Except  in  cases  where  a  differ- 
ent punishment  is  prescribed  by  this  code,  every  offense  declared  to  be  a  misde- 
meanor is  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a  county  jail  not  exceeding  .six  months,  or 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  both." 


158 


MINERAL    IXni" 


KV     OF    CALIFOKXIA. 


ton.  lit'  is  also  enii'ovvprod  to  Itiruisli  witimut  cost  to  imlilic  libraries  the  publica^ 
tioiis  of  the  bureau  and  to  oxchaii^'e  i>ublic-ations  with  other  geological  surveys  an^ 
scientific  societies,  etc. 

Skc.  14.     The  state  mineialogist  i)iovi(le(l  for  by  this  act  sliall  be  tiie  successo 
in    interest   of    the    board    of    trustees   of    the    state    mining    bureau,    and    the    stat 
mineralogist,  under  and  by   virtue  of  that  certain  act.  entitled  "Au   act   to  provit 
for  the  establishment,  maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known   as  tl: 
state  mining  bureau,  and  for  tlie  appointnient  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees, 
be  known  as  the  board  of  trustees  oi  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  th^ 
direction,  management,  and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  fo 
the  appointment,  duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perfori 
the  duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board 
trustees   of   the    state   mining   bureau."    approved    March   23.    181)3.    and    all    books 
papers,    documents,    personal    property,    records,    and    property    of    every    kind    an^ 
description  obtained  or  possessed,  or  held  or  controlled  by  the  said  board  of  trustee 
of  the   said   state   mining   bureau,   and   the   .state  .mineralogist,   and   the   clerks   aai 
employees  thereof,  under  the  provisions  of  said  act  of  March  23,  1893.  or  any  act" 
supplemental  thereto  or  amendatory  thereof,  shall  immediately  be  turned  over  and 
delivered  to  the  said  state  mineralogist  herein  provided  for.  who  shall  have  charge 
and  control  thereof. 

Hkv.  ITi.  That  certain  act  entitled  ""An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau,  and 
for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appointment,  duties 
and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  iierform  the  duties  of  his  office 
under  the  control,  direction,  and  supervision  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state 
mining  bureau."  approved  ^March  23.  1S03.  together  with  all  acts  amendatory 
thereof  and  supiilemental  thereto  and  all  acts  in  conflict  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 


I 


-'I'A'nsTICS  OF   AXNTAL  PHODICTK  ).\.  1  ^O 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE 
MINING  BUREAU. 


During  the  past  forty-four  veal's,  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  organic  act  creating  the  California  State  Alining  Bureau,  there 
have  been  published  many  reports,  bulletins  and  maps  which  go  to  make 
up  a  library  of  detailed  information  on  the  mineral  industry  of  the 
state,  a  large  part  of  which  could  not  be  duplicated  from  any  other 
source. 

One  feature  that  has  added  to  the  popularity  of  the  publications  is 
that  many  of  them  have  been  distributed  without  cost  to  the  pul)lic,  and 
even  tiie  more  elaborate  ones  have  been  .sold  at  a  price  which  barely 
covers  the  cost  of  printing. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  fnnds  for  the  advancing  of  the  work  of  this 
department  have  often  been  limited,  many  of  the  reports  and  bulletins 
mentioned  were  printed  in  limited  editions  which  are  unw  entirely 
exhausted. 

Copies  of  snch  publications  are  available,  however,  in  the  Bureau's 
offices  in  the  Ferry  Building,  San  Francisco ;  Snn  Finance  Building, 
Los  Angeles;  Chamber  of  Connuerce  Building,  Sacramento;  Santa 
Maria ;  Santa  Paula  ;  Coalinga  ;  Taft ;  Bakersfield.  They  may  also  I)e 
found  in  many  public,  private  and  technical  libraries  in  California 
and  other  states,  and  foreign  countries. 

A  catalog  of  all  publications  of  the  Bureau,  from  1880  to  1917, 
criving  a  synopsis  of  their  contents,  is  issued  as  Bulletin  No.  77. 

Publications  in  stock  may  be  obtained  by  addressing  any  of  the  offices 
of  the  State  I\Iining  Bureau  and  enclosing  the  requisite  amount  in  the 
case  of  publications  that  have  a  list  price.  The  Bureau  is  authorized 
to  receive  only  coin,  stamps  or  money  orders,  and  it  will  be  appreciated 
if  remittance  is  made  in  this  manner  rather  than  by  personal  check. 

The  prices  noted  include  delivery  charges  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  i\Ioney  orders  should  be  made  payable  to  the  State  Mining 
Bureau. 

REPORTS. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  tlie  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

**First   .\iinu.Tt   Report  of   the   State  Mineralogist,   ISSO,  43  pp.      Henry   G. 

Hanks 

**Secon(l  Annual  Report  of  tlie  State  Mineralogist.  1SS2.  r>14  pp..  4  illustra- 
tions. 1  map.     Henry  (t.  Hanks 

•♦Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1SS3,  11 1  pp.,  21  illustra- 
tions.     Henry    (J.    Hanks 

♦♦Fourth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1SS4.  410  pp..  7  illustra- 
tions.     Henry   G.    Hanks 

♦♦Fifth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1885.  234  pp..  15  illustra- 
tions. 1  geological   map.     Henry  (J.  Hanks 

♦♦Sixth  Annual   Report  of  the   State   .Mineralogist,  Tart  I,   1880,  145  pp.,  3 

illustrations.  1  map.     Henry  (J.   Hanks 

♦♦Part  H,  1S87.  222  pp..  oO  illustrations.     Willian>  Irelan.  ,Tr 

♦♦Seventh  Annual   Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1887.  ol5  pp.     William 

Irelan.  Jr.   

♦♦Eighth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  1888,  048  pp..  122  illustra- 
tions.     William   Irelan.   Jr 

•♦Ninth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1SS9,  352  pp.,  57  illustra- 
tions. 2  niai>s.      William   Irelan.   .Tr 


IGO  MIXERAI.  IXnrSTKY  OF  CALIF'^ORXIA 

REPORTS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (•*)   indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
**T<'nth  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1890,  983  pp.,  179  illustra- 
tions. 10  maps.     "William   Irelan.  Jr 

Eleventh   Report    (First   Biennial)    of  the   State   Mineralogist,   for  the   two 
vears   ending   September  15.   1S92.   (112   pp..   To   illustrations,   4   maps. 

William  Irelan.  Jr .$1.00 

**T\velfth  Report   (Second  Biennial)   of  the  State  ^Mineralogist,  for  the  two 
.years  ending   September  15,   1894,  541   pp.,  101   illustrations.  5   maps. 

J.  J.  Crawford 

♦♦Thirteenth  Report  (Third  Biennial)  of  the  State  ^liueralogist,  for  the  two 
years   ending   September   15,    189G,   72G   pp.,    93   illustrations,   1   map. 

J.  J.  Crawford 

Chai)ters    of   the    State    Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,   1913-1914, 

Fletcher  Hamilton  : 
**^Iiues  and  Mineral  Resources.  Amador,  Calaveras  and  Tuolumne  Counties, 

172   pp..   paper ^ 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources.  Colusa.  Glenn.  Lake.   !Mnrin.  Napa,  Solano, 

Sonoma  and  Yolo  Counties.  208  pp..  paper ..50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources.    Del     Norte,    Humboldt,    and    Mendocino 

Counties.  59   pp.,   paper .25 

**Miues   and   Mineral    Resources.    Fresno.    Kern,   Kings,    Madera,    Mariposa, 

Merced,  San  Joaquin  and  Stanislaus  Counties.  220  pages,  paper 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources    of    Imperial    and    San    Diego    Counties, 

113   pp..   paper .35 

**Mines    and^Iineral    Resources.    Shasta,    Siskiyou    and    Trinity    Counties, 

ISO   pp..   paper 

Fourteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1913- 
1914,  Fletcher  Hamilton.  1915: 
A  General  Report  on  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Amador,  Cala- 
\eras,  Tuolumne,  Colusa.  Glenn.  Lake.  Marin,  Napa,  Solano,  Sonoma, 
Yolo,  Del  Norte,  Humboldt.  Mendocino.  Fresno,  Kern,  Kings,  Madera, 
Mariposa,  Merced,  San  Joaquin,  Stanislaus,  San  Diego,  Imperial, 
Shasta.    Siskiyou,    and    Trinity    Counties,    974    pp.,    275    illustrations, 

doth    -•<><' 

Chapters   of   the    State   Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,    1915-191(i. 

Fletcher  Hamilton  : 
=''*.Mines  and   Mineral   Resources.   Alpine.    Inyo  and   ^I(»no  Counties.   17Ci  pp.. 

paper    

'^*Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Butte.  Lassen,  Modoc.  Sutter,  and  Tehama 

Counties.  91  pp..   paper 

Mine-s  and  Mineral   Resources.   El   Dorado,  Placer,   Sacramento,  and  Yuba 

Counties,   198  pp..   paper -b-i 

Klines   and    Mineral    Resources.   Monterey.    San    Benito.    San    Luis    Obispo. 

Santa  Barbara,  and  Ventura  Counties.  L^o  pp..  paper .•*>■" 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Los  Angeles.  Orange,  and  Riverside  Counties. 

13G    i)|)..    paper -50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  186  pp., 

paper -^-J 

Fifteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  for  the  Biennial  Period  1915- 
1916,  Fletcher  Hamilton,  1917: 
A  General  Report  on  the  Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Alpine,  Inyo, 
Mono,  Butte,  Lassen,  Modoc.  Sutter.  Tehama.  Placer,  Sacramento, 
Y'uba,  Los  Angeles,  Orange,  Riverside.  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo. 
Santa  Barbara,  Ventura,  San  Bernardino  and  Tulare  Counties,  990  pp., 

41.3   illustrations,   cloth 3.75 

Chapters    of    the    State    Mineralogist's    Report.    Biennial    Period    1917-1918, 
Fletcher  Hamilton  : 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Nevada  County,  270  pp.,  paper .75 

Mines  and  .Mineral  Resources  of  Piumas  County.  ISS  pp.,  paper ..5<^ 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Sierra  County.  144  jip..  i)aper .5<' 

Seventeenth    Report   of   the   State   Mineralogist.    1920.    Mining   in   California 

during  1920.  Fletcher  Hamilton  ;  .502  pp..  71  illustrations,  cloth 1.75 


STATISTICS  OF  ANNUAL  PRODLCTION.  161 

REPORTS — Continued. 

Asterisks  (*♦)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
Eighteenth    Report   of   the    State   Mineralogist,    1922,    Mining   in   California, 
Fletcher  Hamilton.     Chapters  published   monthly   beginning  with  Jau- 
uarj',  1922: 
**January,  **Februaiy,  March,  April,  May,  June,  July,  August,   September, 

October,  November,  December,  1922 Free 

Chapters  of  Nineteenth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist.  'Mining  in  California.' 
Fletcher   Hamilton   and   Lloyd   L.   Root.     January.   February,   March. 

September,  1923 1 Free 

Chapters  of  Twentieth  Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  'Mining  in  California,' 
Lloyd  L.  Root.     Published  quarterly.     January,  April,  July,  October. 

1924.   per  copy $0.2.5 

Chapters    of    Twenty-first    Report    of    the    State    Mineralogist.    'Mining    in 
California.'  Lloyd  L.  Root.     Published  quarterly,  January.  April.  July. 

October,  1925.  per  copy .25 

Subscription,  $1.00  in  advance  (by  calendar  year,  only). 
Chapters  of  State  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor's  Report: 

Summary  of  Operations — California  Oil  Fields,  July,  191S,  to  March,  1919 

(one  volume)    Free 

Summary   of   Operations — California   Oil   Fields.      Published    monthlv,   begin- 
ning April,  1919: 
**Apn].  **May,  June.  **July,  **August,  **September,  **October.  November, 

**December,  1919 Free 

January,  February,  March,  April.  **May,  June,  July,  **August,  September, 

October.   November,  December.  1920 Free 

January,    **February.    **March.    **April,    May,    June.    **July,    August, 

**September,  **October,  **November,  **December,  1921 Free 

.Tanuary.    February,    March.    April,   May.   .Tune,   .July,    August,    September, 

October,   November,   December,  1922 Free 

January,   February,   March,   April,   May,   June.   July,   August,    September, 

October,  November,  December,  1923 Free 

January,   February,   March,   April,    May,   June,   July,    August,    September, 

October.    November.    December,    1024 Free 

January,  February,  March,  April.  May.  June,  1925 Free 

BULLETINS. 

Asterisks    (••)    Indicate    the    publication    Is    out   of   print. 

•♦Bulletin  No.  1.     A   Description   of   Some   Desiccated   Human   Reniains,   by 

Winslow  Anderson.     ISSS,  41  pp..  6  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  2.     Methods   of  Mine   Timbering,    by    W.   H.    Storms.      1S94. 

58  pp.,  75  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  3.     Gas  and  Petroleum  Yielding  Formations  of  Central  Valley 

of  California,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1S94,  100  pp.,  13  illustrations.  4  map.>^_     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  4.     Catalogue  of  Californian   Fossils,  by  J.  G.  Cooper.  1S94, 

73  pp.,  G7  illustrations.     (Part  I  was  published  in  the  Seventh  Annual 

Report  of  the  State  Mineralogist,  1S87.) 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  5.     The  Cyanide  Process,  1894,  by  Dr.  A.  Scheidel.     140  pp., 

40  illustrations 

Bulletin  No.  6.     California   Gold   Mill   Practices,   1S95,   by   E.   B.   Preston. 

85  pp.,  4()  ilhistrntions .50 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  7.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties    for    the 

year  1894.  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  8.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties    for   the 

year  1895.  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

•♦Bulletin    No.   9.     Mine   Drainage,   Pumps,   etc.,   by   Hans  C.   Behr.     1S9G. 

210  pp.,  20G  illustrations 

♦♦Kulletin   No.  10.     A  bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology.  Palaeontology  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  Anthony  W.  Vogdes.    1S96,  121  pp.     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  11.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura 

and  Santa  Barbara  counties,  by  W.  L.  Watts.     1897,  94  pp.,  6  maps, 

31   illustrations 

11—41922 


162  MINERAL  IXDISTRY  <»K  CALIFORNIA 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (••)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
♦♦Bulletin  No.  12.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1S96, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  13.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1897, 

by  Charles  G.  Tale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  14.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1S9S, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   15.     Map   of   Oil   City   Fields.   Fresno   County,   by   John   H. 

Means.     1S99 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  16.     The  Genesis  of  Petroleum  and  Asphaltum  in  California, 

by  A.  S.  Cooper.     1S99.  39  pp..  29  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  17.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1S99, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   IS.     Mother  Lode  Region   of  California,  by   W.   H.   Storms. 

1900.  154  pp..  49  illustrations _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  19.     Oil  and  Gas  Yielding  Formations  of  California,  by  W.  L. 

Watts.     1900,  236  pp.,  60  illustrations.  S  maps _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  20.     Synopsis  of  General  Report  of  State  Mining  Bureau,  by 

W.  L.  Watts.     1901.  21  pp.     This  bulletin  contains  a  brief  statement 

of  the  progress  of  the  mineral  industry  in  California  for  the  four  years 

ending  December,  1S99 1 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  21.     Mineral  Production  of  California  by  Counties,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1900.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  22.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.    1900.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

Bulletin  No.  23.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  by  P.   C.  DuBois, 

F.  M.  Anderson.  J.  H.  Tibbits  and  G.  A.  Tweedy.     1902.  2S2  pp.,  69 
illustrations,  and  9  maps $0.50 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  24.    The  Saline  Deposits  of  California,  by  G.  E.  Bailey.     1902, 

216  pp.,  99  illustrations,  5  maps _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  2.5.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1901, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   26.      Mineral   Production  of  California   for  the  past  Fifteen 

Years,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1902.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.    27.     The    Quicksilver   Resources   of   California,    by    William 

Forstner.     1903.  273  pp..  144  illustrations.  S  maps _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  28.     Mineral  Production  of  California,   for  1902,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     Tabiilated  sheet — 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  29.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Sixteen  Years,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     1903.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

**Bulletin  No.  .30.     Bibliography  Relating  to  the  Geology.  Palaeontology,  and 

Mineral  Resources  of  California,  by  A.  W.  Vogdes.    1903.  290  pp _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   31.     Chemical   Analyses   of  California  Petroleum,   by   H.   N. 

Cooper.     1904.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  32.     Production  and  Use  of  Petroleum  in  California,  by  Paul 

W.  Prutzman.     1904.  2.30  pp..  116  illustrations.  14  maps _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  33.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1903, 

by   Charles   G.   Yale.     Tabulated   sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  34.     Mineral   Production  of  California  for  Seventeen  Years, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1904.     Tabulated  sheet _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.  35.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  by  Charles  G.  Yale. 

1904.  5-5  pp..  20  county  maps.     Relief  map  of  California 

♦"Bulletin  No.  36.     Gold  Dredging  in  California,  by  J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905, 

120  pp..  66  illustrations.  3  maps _. 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   37.      Gems.   Jewelers'    Materials,   and   Ornamental   Stones   of 

California,  by  George  F.  Kunz.     1905.  16S  pp..  54  illustrations 

♦♦Bulletin    No.   3S.      Structural   and   Industrial    Materials   of  California,   b.v 

Wm.  Forstner.  T.  C.  Hopkins.  C.  Naramore  and  L.  H.  Eddy.     1906, 

412  pp..  1-50  illustrations.  1  map _. 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  39.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  for  1904. 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

♦♦Bulletin   No.   40.      Mineral   Production   of  California   for   Eighteen   Years. 

bv  Charles  G.  Yale.     190.5.     Tabulated  sheet ^_J_—     — 


STATISTICS  OF  AXMAL  PRODrCTIOX.  163 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 
letin  No.  41.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California,  for  190i,  by  Charles 

G.  Yale.     1905,  54  pp..  20  county  maps 

letin  No.  42.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1905,  by 

Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin   No.   43.      Mineral    Production   of  California   for   Nineteen   Years, 

by  Charles  G.  I'ale.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin   No.  44.     California  Mines  and  Minerals  for  1905,  by  Charles  G. 

Yale.     1907,  31  pp..  20  county  maps -y.^- 

letin  No.  45.     Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California,  by  J.  A,  Edman. 

1907.     10  pp 

letin   No.  4G.      General    Index  of  Publications  of  the   California   State 

Minins  Bureau,  by  Charles  G.  Yale.     1907,  54  pp $0.30 

letin    No.   47.      Mineral    Production   of   California,   by   Counties,   1906, 

by  Charles  G.  Yale.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin    No.   48.      Mineral    Production    of   California    for   Twenty    Years. 

190G,   by  Charles  G.  Yale 

letin  No.  49.     Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1906,  by  Charles 

G.   Yale.     34   pp 

letin  No.  .50.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California,  1908.  by  A.  Haus- 

mann,  J.  Kruttschnitt.  Jr.,  W.  E.  Thorne  and  J.  A.  Edman,  366  pp., 

74  illustrations.      (Revised  edition.) 1.00 

letin  No.  51.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  1907,  by 

D.  II.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin  No.  52.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-one  Years, 

1907,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin  No.  53.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  1907,  with  County 

Maps,  by  D.  H.  Walker,  62  pp 

letin  No.  54.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker,  1908.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin  No.  55.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twent.v-two  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker.  1908.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin   No.   56.      Mineral   Production   for   1908,   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws  of  California,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     78  pp 

letin   No.   57.     Gold   Dredging   in   California,   by   W.   B.   Winston   and 

Chas.  Janin.    1910,  312  pp..  2.39  illustrations  and  10  maps 

letin  No.  58.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties,  by  D.  H. 

Walker,  1909.     Tabulated  sheet "_ 

letin  No.  59.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-three  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1909.     Tabulated  sheet ,~ 

letin  No.  60.     Mineral  Production  for  1909,  County  Mans  and  Mining 

Laws  of  California,  by  D.  H.  Walker.     94  pp 

letin  No.  61.     Mineral  Production  of  California,  by  Counties  for  1910, 

by  D.  H.  Walker.    Tabulated  sheet 

letin  No.  62.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-four  Years, 

by  D.  H.  Walker,  1910.     Tabulated  sheet 

letin   No.  63.     Petroleum  in  Southern  California,  by  P.  W.  Prutzman. 

1912,  430  pp..  41  illustrations,  6  maps .^ 

letin  No,  64.     Mineral  Production  for  1911,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     49  pp.__     ' 

letin  No.  65.     Mineral  Production  for  1912.  by  E.  S.  Boalich.      64  pp. 

letin  No.  66,     Mining  Laws  of  the  United  States  and  California.     1914, 

89  pp. ____ 

letin    No.    67.      Minerals   of   California,    by    Arthur    S.    Eakle.      1914, 

226    pp.    

letin   No.   68.      Mineral    Production    for   1913,   with   County   Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     160  pp 

letin   No.   69.     Petroleum   Industry  of  California,   with   Folio  of  Maps 

(IS  by  22),  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin  and  C.  A.  Waring.     1914,  519  pp., 

13  illustrations,  83  figs.     [IS  plates  in  accompanying  folio.] 

letin    No.   70.     Mineral    Production    for    1914,   with   County   Maps  and 

Mining   Laws.     1S4   pp 

letin    No.   71.     Mineral    Production    for   1915,   with   County    Maps   and 

Mining  Laws,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     193  pp.,  4  illustrations : L     


164  MINERAL  INDl'STRY  OF  CALIFORXIA 

BULLETINS— Continued. 

Asterisks  (•*)  indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

Price 

Bulletin  No.  72.     The  Geologic  Formations  of  California,  by  James  Perrin 

Smith.      1916.    47    pp $0.25 

Reconnaissance  Geologic  Map   (of  which.  Bulletin  72  is  explanatory), 

in  23  colors.     Scale:  1  inch  equals  12  miles.     Mounted 2.50_ 

**Bulletin  No.  73.  First  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor of  California,  for  the  fiscal  year  191.5-16,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin. 
27S  pp.,  26  illustrations - 

Bulletin  No.  74.     Mineral  Production  of  California  in  1916,  with  County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  12  illustrations Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  7-5.     United  States  and  California  Mining  Laws,  1917.    115  pp., 

paper 

Bulletin  No.  76.  Manganese  and  Chromium  in  California,  by  Walter  W. 
Bradley,  Emile  Huguenin.  C.  A.  Logan,  W.  B.  Tucker  and  C.  A. 
Waring,  1918.    248  pp.,  51  illustrations,  5  maps,  paper .50 

Bulletin    No.    77.     Catalogue   of   Publications   of   California    State   Mining 

Bureau,  1880-1917.  by  E.  S.  Boalich.     44  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  78.  Quicksilver  Resources  of  California,  with  a  Section  on 
Metallurgy  and  Ore-Dressing,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1918.  389  pp., 
77  photographs  and  42  plates   (colored  and  line  cuts),  cloth 1.50 

Bulletin   No.   79.     Magnesite  in   California,   by   Walter  W.   Bradley.   1925. 

147  pp.,  62  photographs,  11  line  cuts  and  maps,  cloth l.'X) 

Bulletin    No.    SO.     Tungsten,    Molybdenum    and    Vanadium    in    California. 

CIn    preparation.)    

Bulletin  No.  81.     Foothill  Copper  Belt  of  California.     (In  preparation.)—     

♦♦Bulletin  No.  82.  Second  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Super- 
visor, for  the  fiscal  year  1916-1917,  by  R.  P.  McLaughlin.  1918.  412  pp., 
31   illustrations,   cloth 

Bulletin   No.   83.     California   ^lineral   Production    for   1917,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley.     179  pp.,  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.'  84.  Third  Annual  Report  of  the  State  Oil  and  Gas  Saper- 
visor,    for    the    fiscal    year    1917-1918,    by    R.    P.    McLaughlin,    1918. 

617  pp.,  28  illustrations,  cloth 

**Bulletin  No.  85.    Platinum  and  Allied  Metals  in  California,  by  C.  A.  Logan. 

1919.     10  photographs.  4  plates.  120  pp..  paper 

Bulletin    No.   86.     California   Mineral    Production    for   1918,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1919.     212  pp.,  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  87.  Commercial  Minerals  of  California,  with  notes  on  their 
uses,  distribution,  properties,  ores,  field  tests,  and  preparation  for 
market,  by  W.  O.  Castello.  1920.     124  pp.,  paper 

Bulletin    No.   88.     California    Mineral   Production    for   1919,   with   County 

Maps,  by  Walter  W.  Bradley,  1920.     204  pp..  paper Free 

♦♦Bulletin  No.  89.  Petroleum  Resources  of  California,  with  Special  Reference 
to  Unproved  Areas,  by  Lawrence  Vander  Leek,  1921.  12  figures,  6 
photographs.  6  maps  in  pocket.  186  pp..  cloth 

Bulletin   No.   90.     California   Mineral    Production   for  1920,    with   County 

Maps,  bv  Walter  W.  Bradley.  1921.     218  pp.,  paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  91.     Minerals  of  California,  by  Arthur  S.  Eakle,  1923,  328  pp., 

cloth    1-00 

Bulletin  No.  92.  Gold  Placers  of  California,  by  Chas.  S.  Haley.  1923.  167 
pp..  36  photographs  and  7  plates   (colored  and  line  cuts,  also  geologic 

map),   cloth    1-^ 

Extra  copies  of  the  Geologic   Map    (in  4   colors) .50 

Bulletin   No.  93.     California  Mineral  Production  for  1922,  by   Walter  W. 

Bradley.  1923.  188  pp..  paper Free 

Bulletin   No.  94.     California  Mineral  Production  for  1923,  by  Walter  W. 

Bradley.    1924.    162    pp..    paper Free 

Bulletin  No.  95.  Geology  and  Ore  Deposits  of  the  Randsburg  Quadrangle. 
By  Carlton  D.  Hulin.  1925.  152  pp.,  49  photographs,  13  line  cuts,  1 
colored   geologic   map,   cloth 2.(X) 

Bulletin    No.    96.    California    Mineral    Production    for    1924.    by    Walter 

W.  Bradley.   192."..     173  pp..   paper Fi 


STATISTICS  OF  ANXUAL  PRODUCTION.  165 

PRELIMINARY   REPORTS. 

Asterisks   (**)    indicate  tlie  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  1.     Notes  on  Damage  by  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields,  December.  1913.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  2.     Notes  on  Damage  by  Water  in  California  Oil 

Fields.  March,  1914.     By  R.  P.  McLaughlin.     4  pp 

Preliminary   Report  No.  3.     Manganese   and   Chromium,   1917.     By   E.   S. 

Boalich.     32  pp 

Preliminary   Report    No.   4.     Tungsten,    Molybdenum   and   Vanadium.     By 

E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello,  1918.     34  pp.     Paper Free 

Preliminary  Report  No.  r>.     Antimony,  Graphite,  Nickel.  Potash,  Strontium 

and  Tin.    By  E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello,  1918.    44  pp.     Paper__     Free 
*■* Preliminary  Report  No.  ♦!     A  Review  of  Mining  in  California  During  1910. 

Fletcher  Hamilton,  1920.     43  pp.  Paper Free 

♦♦Preliminary  Report  No.  7.  The  Clay  Industry  in  California.  By  E.  S. 
Boalich,  W.  O.  Castello,  E.  Huguenin,  C.  A.  Logan,  and  W.  B.  Tucker, 

1920.     102  pp.     24  illustrations.     Paper 

■**Preiiminary  Report  No.  S.  A  Review  of  Mining  in  Caifornia  During 
L  1921,  with  Notes  on  the  Outlook  for  1922.  Fletcher  Hamilton,  1922. 
m  68  pp.     Paper 

I  MISCELLANEOUS    PUBLICATIONS. 

Asterisks   (*•)   indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

♦♦First  Annual  Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  during  the  year  ending  April  16, 
l&Sl.     3.50  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  books,  maps,  lithographs,  photographs,  etc.,  in  the  library  of 

the  State  Mining  Bureau  at  San  Francisco.  May  15.  1SS4.    19  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California.  Volume  II.  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  April  16,  1881,  to  May  5. 
1SS4.     220  pp ^" 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California.  Volume  III,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  May  15,  1S84,  to  March  31. 
1887.      195   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  State  Museum  of  California,  Volume  IV,  being  the  collec- 
tion made  bv  the  State  Mining  Bureau  from  March  30,  1887,  to  August 
20.    1S90.      261   pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  the  Library  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau,  September 

1,  1S92.     149  pp 

♦♦Catalogue  of  West  North  American  and  Many  Foreign  Shells  with  Their 
Geographical  Ranges,  by  J.  G.  Cooper.  Printed  for  the  State  Mining 
Bureau,  April,  1894___— : 

♦♦Report  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  four  years  ending  September,  1900. 

15   pp.      Paper 

Bulletin.      Reconnaissance   of    the   Colorado   Desert    Mining   District.      By 

Stephen  Bowers.  1901.     19  pp.     2  illustrations.     Paper Free 

Commercial    Mineral    Notes.      A    monthly    mimeographed    sheet,    beginning 

April.  1923 J Free 

MAPS. 

Registers   of    Mines   With    Maps. 

Asterisks  (••)  indicate  out  of  print. 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Amador  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Butte  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Calaveras  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  El    Dorado    County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Inyo  County   

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Kern    County    

♦♦Register  of  Mine.-,  with  Map,  Lake  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Mariposa  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,   Nevada  County 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Placer    County    

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with   Map.  Plumas    County     

♦♦Register  of  Minos,   with   Map.   San    Bernardino    County    


166  MINERAL  IXDISTRY  ( »F  (  ALIFOKXIA 

MAPS — Continued. 

Asterisks  (**)  indicate  .the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

!•  Price 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  San  Diego  County 

Register  of   Mines,   with    Map,    Santa   Barbara   <'oiinty .<n.2."i 

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Shasta  County   

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Sierra    County    

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Siskiyou  County  

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Trinity    County    

♦♦Register  of  Mines,  with  Map,  Tuolumne   County   

Register  of  Mines,  with  Map.  Yuba  County    __' 

Register  of  Oil  Wells,  with  Map,  Lps  Angeles  City 

OTHER    MAPS. 

Asterisks  (*•)  Indicate  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 

♦♦Map  of  California.  Showing  Mineral  Deposits   (.50x60  in.)  — 
Map  of  Forest  Reserves  in  California — 

Mounted     .o<i 

♦♦Unmounted    

♦♦Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California 

♦♦Map  of  El  Dorado  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Madera  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Placer   Countj\   Showing  Boundaries.   National   Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Shasta   County,   Showing  Boundaries,   National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Sierra  County.  Showing  Boundaries.  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Siskiyou  County,  Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Tuolumne  County,   Showing  Boundaries,  National  Forests 

♦♦Map  of  Mother   Lode    Region 

♦♦Map  of  Desert   Region   of   Southern   California 

Map  of  Minaret   District,    Madera    County .20 

Map  of  Copper  Deposits  in  California .05 

♦♦Map  of  Calaveras  County  

**Map  of  Plumas  County .25 

♦♦Map  of  Trinity   County   

^''Map  of  Tuolumne  County .2~> 

Geological  Map  of  Inyo  County.     Scale  1  inch  equals  4  miles .60 

Map  of  California  accompanying  Bulletin  No.  S9,  showing  generalized  classi- 
fication  of   land  with   regard   to  oil   possibilities.     Map  only,   without 

Bulletin    .25 

Geological  Map  of  California,  1916.  Scale  1  inch  equals  12  miles.  As 
accurate  and  up-to-date  as  available  data  will  permit  as  regards  topog- 
raphy and  geography.  Shows  railroads,  highways,  post  ofBces  and  other 
towns.  First  geological  map  that  has  been  available  since  1892.  and 
shows  geology  of  entire  state  as  no  other  map  does.     Geological  details 

lithographed  in  2.3  colors.     Mounted 2.50 

Topographic    Map   of    Sierra    Nevada   Gold    Belt,    showing   distribution    of 

auriferous  gravels.     In  4  colors ..50 

OIL    FIELD    MAPS. 

These    maps    are    revised    from    time    to    time    as    development    work 
advances  and  ownerships  change. 

Map  No.     1 — Sargent.  Santa  Clara  County .50 

Map  No.     2 — Santa  Maria,  including  Cat  Canyon  and  Los  Alamos .75 

Map  No.     .3 — Santa  Maria,  including  Casmalia  and  Lompoc .75 

Map  No.     4 — Whittier-Fullerton.    including    Olinda.    Brea    Canyon,    Puente 

Hills.  East  Coyote  and  Richfield .75 

Map  No.     .5 — Whittier-Fullerton,     including     Whittier,     West     Coyote,     and 

Montebello .75 

Map  No.     6 — Salt  Lake,  Los  Angeles  County .75 

Map  No.     7 — Sunset  and  San  Emido  and  Kern  County ,75 

Map  No.     S — South  Midway  and  Buena  Vista  Hills,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.     9 — North  Midway  and  McKittrick.  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.   10 — Belridge  and  McKittrick,  Kern  County .75 


STATISTIC?:  OF  AXNIAL  PRODUCTION.  167 

OIL   FIELD    MAPS— Continued. 

Price 

Map  No.  11 — Lost  Hills  and  North  Belridge,  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  12 — Devils   Den,   Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  I'd — Kern  River.  Kem  County .$0.75 

Mop  No.  14 — Coalinga.  Fresno  County 1.0<j 

Map  No.  15 — Elk  Hills.  Kern  County .75 

Map  No.  16 — Ventura-Ojai,  Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  17 — Santa  Paula-Sespe  Oil  Fields,  Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  18— Piru-Simi-Newhall   Oil   Fields .75 

Map  No.  19 — Arrovo  Grande,  San  Luis  Obispo  County .75 

Map  No.  20— rx)ng  Beach   Oil   Field 1.00 

Map  No.  21 — Portion  of  District  4,  Showing  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Kern 

and   Kings  counties .75 

Map  No.  22 — Portion    of    District    3.    Showing    Oil    Fields,    Santa    Barbara 

County   . .75 

Map  No.  2.3 — Portion    of    District    2.    Showing    Boundaries    of    Oil    Fields, 

Ventura  County .75 

Map  No.  24 — Portion  of  District  1,  Showing  Boundaries  of  Oil  Fields,  Los 

Angeles  and  Orange  counties 1 .75 

Map  No.  26 — Huntington  Beach  Oil  Field .75 

Map  No.  27 — Santa  Fe  Springs  Oil   Field .75 

Map  No.  28 — Torrance.  Los  Angeles  County .75 

yiii])  No.  29 — Dominguez.    Los    Angeles    County 1.00 

.^^ap  No.  .30 — Rosecrans,   Los  Angeles  County 1.00 

Map  No.  31 — Inglewood.  Ix>s  Angeles  County '      .75 

DETERMINATION    OF    MINERAL    SAMPLES. 

Samples  (limited  to  three  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  state  may  be 
sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  charge. 
No  samples  will  be  determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  state.  It  must  be 
understood  that  no  assays,  or  quantitative  determinations  will  be  made.  Samples 
should  be  in  lump  form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  on 
outside  of  package,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless  delivery  charges  are 
prepaid.  A  letter  should  accompany  sample,  giving  locality  where  mineral  was  found 
and    the    nature   of   the    information    desired. 


INDEX. 


I  Page 

jricultural  production  of  California  in  1924 12 

Alameda  County 131 

Alpine   County   131 

Aluminum 37 

Amador  County 131 

Amblyg-onite    108,  111 

American   Petroleum  Institute,  cited 24,  33 

America  Petroleum,   supply  and  demand 33-35 

Andalusite     ~ n^ 

jjAntimony ~_~ ~   _~ 3Y 

[i      native" ~ ~ 3g 

,      total  production ~ 3g 

'Appendix    ~_ 156-172 

Aquamarine 102 

Architectural    terra  cotta I II 96 

Arrowhead  Hot  Springs,  radioactivity  at 110 

lArsenic 3g 

Art  pottery gg 

Asbestos I I_       92 

total  production I 93 

Asphalt 63 

iBancroft,  H.  H.,  cited 47 

iBarytes    -- __  93 

I     total    production I_Z__  94 

JBallast 1 gg 

(Bauxite 3'j' 

.Benitoite :::__:::::__:::::::::_::  102 

iBeryllium 39 

Bismuth    ^ ^^~_II  39 

Bisque  ware I_Z~  96 

Bituminous    rock    ~  g3 

1     total  production 64 

jBlake  Bros,  quarry,  loadins  rock  on  barge  at 2 I g7 

iBorates 120-122 

i     production.  1864-1924 ~ 122 

'Bowles,    O..    cited ~ _~ g3 

Bradley.   W.   W.,  cited ~ 25,  77 

Breakwater  construction,   larere  rock  for I ~_ '  89 

Bridgeport,  deposition  of  travertine  by  mineral  spring  at 81 

iBrown,    J.    R.,    cited 43 

Brick __::: :64-66 

■     production  of  various  kinds 65 

total    production,    1893-1924 21  66 

Building  stone.      (See  Granite,  Marble,  Sandstone,  etc.) 

Bulletins,    list   of 161 

Bush.    R.    D.,    cited 21 

|Butte  County 132 

iJadmium 40 

Calaveras   County    132 

iCalcium  chloride 122-123 

I     use    on    roads 123 

palifornia,  area  of 130 

map   of.    showing  approximate   location   of  oil   fields 27 

'f^alifornite 102 

'Carbon    dioxide    gas    produced    19 

Casing-head   gas 19 

Celestite     119 

iCement     __ 66-68 

!     total    production    68 

Champion   Porcelain   Co. ~_ "      115 

Chemical  stoneware 96 

Chimney    pine 96 

i^'hinaware I I_I       96 

Chromite 68-70 

concentration    of   69 

imports    of 69 

occurrence  of 68-69 

total    production 70 

Chrysopra.se    102 

"•ay — potterv 94-97 

production,    1887-1924 97 

products    96 

cost  factors  in 95 

uses  of.  other  than  for  pottery Z 95 

poal    16 

total  production  of _        17 

Cobalt    40 


170  INDEX. 

Page 

Colemanite    121 

Collom.  R.  E..  cited 25 

Colusa  County 133 

Concentration  of  chromite 69 

Conchoidal  fracture  of  magnesite-- 76 

Concrete,  bridge  at  Dunsmuir__ .. 67 

crushed  roc-k  for 8S 

Contra  Costa  County 133 

Copper    36.    41-44 

production.    1882-1924 44 

stocks  of.  in  United  States 43 

United  States  production  of 41.  43 

'Cornish'  or  'Cornwall'  stone 96 

Cost  data  on  oil  operations 32 

Counties,    mineral   production    of 14.    130-1.55 

Crushed   rock    87-89 

Cryolite 37 

Cyanite 116 

Curbing 

Del  Norte  County — 134 

Diamonds 101 

Diatomaceous  earth 105 

Dividends  by  oil  companies 31 

Dolomite 97 

total  oroduction 98 

Drain    tile 96 

Dredge  production  of  platinum 

Dredging,  gold -- 45 

Dumortierite 101 

El    Dorado   County 134 

Electric  smelting  of  ferro  alloys 19 

Empire  mine,  cyanide  plant 16 

Eng.   and  Min.   Jour. -Press,  cited 12 

Engels  copper  mine  head-frame 12 

Faience   tile 98 

Feldspar    98 

total  production 99 

Ferberite ; 59 

Ferguson   blocks 65 

Ferro-chrome  by  electric  furnace 19 

Ferro-manganese 50 

by  electric  furnace 49 

Ferro-tungsten 60 

Filter    sand 86 

Fire  brick 65 

clay 96 

Flue    linings--- 96 

Fluorspar 9^ 

Freight  handled  by  railroads,  mines  proportion  of 12 

Fresno  County __ 135 

Fuels    16-35 

Fuller's    earth    100 

total    production    _-__ 101 

Carnets    101 

Gas    (See   Natural   Gas) 

Gasoline  from  natural  gas 19-20 

Gavin.  M.   J.,  cited 113 

Gems 101-103 

total  production 103 

varieties 102 

Geysers.  California,  radioactivity  at __ HO 

Glass    sand    H* 

<;lenn  Countv 135 

Gold    ■- 36.    4  4-48 

production  by  counties,    1924 _  45 

total    production    ^'~i? 

Goodyear,  W.  A.,  cited *' 

Granite     70-73 

production.    18S7-1924 _.    ]3 

varieties    of.     in    California TiJ-71. 

Granules  for  roofing  and  stucco 89 

(Jraphite     103 

total  production 104 

Gravel     |j 

Greenstone  granules __   "9 

Grinding-mill    pebbles    ^-5-86 

Grog 96 

Gypsum    104 

total    production    105 

uses 105 


INDEX.  171 

I'AGE 

Hanks.    Henry,    cited 22 

Harker  magnesite  mine 75 

High-speed   steels 60 

Hill.   J.  M.,  cited 45.  53,  54,  57 

Hittell,  T.  H..  cited 47 

HoUow    building    tile    or    blocks 64-66 

Hiihernite    -- 59 

Humboldt   County 1.35 

Hvacinth 101 

Hyilrargillite     -- 37 

H>drocarbons -- 16 

Itlaho-Maryland  mine,  surface  plant 46 

Imperial   County 136 

Industrial  materials M 1-1 19 

Infusorial  earth -- 105 

total    production    106 

Iryo   County 136 

Iridium 4S,  52,  54 

Iron  ore 48-49 

electric   smelting    uf 49 

total  ijroduction 49 

Jade 102 

Jasper     101 

J'tty  construction,  large  rock  for 89 

Jewelers'  materials  (See  Gems) 

Kaolin 96 

Kaufman,  E.  E..  cited 12 

Kern    County    137 

Kieselguhr 106 

Kings  County -- 137 

Kunzite -- 101,  102 

Lake  County 138 

Lassen  County 138 

Liissen  Peak 150 

Lawver,    A.    M.,    cited 58 

Lead 49 

production,    1887-1924 -- 50 

L.  pidolite    -- 108 

Le.slie   Salt  Refining  Co 127 

Lime _73-74 

production.    189  4-1 92  4 74 

Limestone 10  i 

production.    1894-1924    107 

Linton.     Robt..     cited 94 

Lithia     ._ 108 

Lithopone 61 

Los    Angeles    County    __  139 

Miicadam __  SS 

MacDowell.   C.   H..   cited 125 

Miidera    County    -- 139 

Magnesite    74-79 

duty   on 7S 

imports  of 78 

occurrence    of 77 

producing  districts __„_  77 

production.    1887-1924    -_ _. 79 

specimens  of,   showing  conchoidal   fracture 76 

uses  of 77 

values   of 74 

Magnesium    salts 124 

Maltby  Xo.   2  magnesite  mine 77 

Manganese 50 

imports   of,    from    Brazil 50 

total    production    51 

Marble   79-80 

-  rocluction,     1887-1924     80 

:n    County 140 

Ijosa  County -- 140 

1.  iiial    salts    128 

liicino    County 140 

intile    Trust    Review,    cited 47,67 

ed    County    . -- 141 

Is     36-61 

, 108 

Mineral   industry,  review  of 11 

output  l)y  <-ounties 13,  130 

output,  comparative  value,  1923-1924 13 

paint     109 

production  of,  California,  totals  by  years,  since  1887 15 

water    110 

effect  of  prohibition  on 110 

production,    1887-1924    111 


172  INDEX. 

Page 

Minerals,   total  production  of,  by  years __  15 

variety   of,   produced   in    California I I"        n 

Mining    Bureau   Act I55 

^Miscellaneous   stone 84—90 

production.    1893-1924 T 21 90 

Modoc   County 141 

ilolding  sand   S6_  87 

Molybdenum 51-52 

Mono  County 141 

Monterey    County 142 

Monumental  stone 72 

Morganite 102 

Xapa   County 142 

Xatural    gas    -- 17-20 

gasoline  from ig-'O 

production.    1888-1924 19 

Xevada  County I43 

Nickel     52 

Xitrates    124 

Nitrogen,  atmospheric,  fixation  of 125 

Oil    (See   Petroleum) 

fields,   chart  of  approximate  location   of 27 

lands,    proved 33 

shale 113 

Onyx SO.  81 

Orange    County — 143 

Osmium .52 

Osmiridium 52 

Oxychloride   cement    78 

Palladium --52,   53,    54 

Paving  blocks   __ 85 

Peat    16 

Pebbles  for  grinding  mills 85-S6 

Peck.   A.   B..   cited 115 

I'etroleum    20-35 

American  supply,  future  of 33-35 

.iverage  price  by  counties.   1915-1924 22 

capitalization    30 

dividends  from 31 

features  of.   1924 20 

financial   tables 30-32 

map  of  California,  approximate  location  of  oil  fields 27 

operating  costs  by  fields 32 

outlook    for    1925 21 

prices  by  fields 22 

production,    1S75-1924 23 

production  and   value   by   counties 21 

production  by  fields __ 25,  28 

production   of  light   and   hea^-y  gravities 25 

production  statistics,   1924 21.  25,  28 

proved  oil   land 33 

statistics  of  well  oi)erations 24 

storage   of 25 

yield  per  day  of  wells 24,  28.  32 

Phosphates    -- 111 

P'lacer  County  __ 144 

Platinum -- 52-54 

consxunption  of.  by  industries 54 

from   blister   copper   __ 53 

production    of,     1887-1924 54 

stocks 54 

uses,  markets  and  consumption 53 

Plumas  County 144 

Porcelain 96 

Potash 125-126 

marketing  of -- -- 125 

total    production    of 126 

Pottery   clays    94 

Proved  oil  land 33 

Publications  of  State  Mining  Bureau 159 

Pumice 111-112 

PjTites   112 

total  production 118 

Quartz __---      113-115    j 

crystals    101 

Quicksilver 36.  55-56 

imports  of _- 55 

production,    1850-1924 5C 

production  of,  in  United  States 55 

prices 55 

uses   of   55 


INDEX.  1 73 

Pags 

Railioaotivity  of  hot  springs 11^ 

Keel    earthernware    ^" 


shal 


89 


Reed,    A.    H.,    cited ^^ 


Refractories 


96 


Rhodonite -^21 

Riprap    -___ =2 

Riverside    County ^" 

Roofing  granules °^ 

sand    1° 

slate    — »^ 

tile     — ^f 

Rubble    .°l 

Rubies    ^"- 

Facramento    County — ^j*^ 

River    bridge    at    Dunsmuir °' 

Salines    — — ior 

|ait  cake-  ---::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::i26-i2l 

"production,    "l887-1924 128 

Sampson    magnesite    mine ''_ 

San  Benito  County |'J^ 

San    Bernardino   County — i*o 

San  Diego  County }\2 

San  Francisco  County jjj. 

San  Joaquin    County j-^' 

San   Luis    Obispo    County    — ]^l 


San    Mateo   County 


148 


Sand,   glass — 11^ 

Sand  and  gravel *? 

Sand-lime     brick °^ 

Sandstone o> 

production.     1887-1924     __ »- 

Sanitary   ware ^^ 

Santa   Barbara   County — !■** 

Santa    Clara    County j^JJ 

Santa  Cruz  County — |*|J 

Sapphires ^  ;„ 

Scheelite ^r 

Segment    blocks    ^r 

Semi-vitreous  tableware   — ^^ 

Serpentine '*'•'  °- 

Sewer   pipe   — — ;^ 

Shale  oil }l^ 

Shasta  County ]2^ 

Sierra    County    — i-^2 

Silica     — 11"^~|1? 

total    production H^ 

Sillimanite     -^-^iS 

Silver    ___ 06-08 

production  by  counties o' 

production.    1880-1924    §8 

Siskiyou   County o    oi 

SlRtt* 00— o  4 

production^  1889-1924    __ 84 

Soapstone Tib 

total  production __ ':f* 

uses ]lt 

Soda ^, 

total  production ^?^ 

Solano   County   — i?j 

Sonoma  County l^i 

Sorel  cement — ^* 

Specific  gravities  of  oil  produced -•* 

Spelter    (See  Zinc)  ^ 

Standard    Oil    Bulletin,    cited __ -» 

Company,    cited -^ 

Stani.slaus  County  __ ^^r 

State    Mineralogist    Report,    cited-__ j^ 

list  of i;?^ 

Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor,  cited __ -o 

Steatite    

Stocks  of  cooper   in   United   States 43 

platinum  in  United  States ei^qX 

Stone,    miscellaneous    — **   ^^ 

production    by    counties    .. on 

production   by    years __ ^" 

Stoneware    jjg 

Strontium fi'>_90 

Structural  materials "-   ^, 

Stucco   dash,   granules  for — jj^ 

Sulphur Y.T 

Summit  lime  plant ,.% 

Sutter    County '  " 


1 74  INDEX. 

Page 
Talc 116-117 

uses 11 

Tehama  County 15:: 

Terra  cotta ?6 

Tile   — -__ 64-66,    96 

Tin     5n 

Topaz     I'l- 

Torbanitf 11 

Tourmaline 101,  10. 

Trans.   Amer.   Inst.   Min.   Ene.,   cited 4ii 

Travertine   80.  Si 

Trinity    County 15;; 

Trona 12^ 

Tube  mill  pebbles S.', 

Tuff,  used  for  building:  stone 7i 

Tulare    County 15:: 

Tungsten    59-6ii 

total    production    -- 6"i 

Tuolumne   County   154 

Turquoise l". 

Union  Lime  Company  plant 7 

United   States   Bureau  of  Mines,   cited 44,  .oT 

Commerce   Reports,   cited In 

copper,  production  of -  — 41.  4 

(Ideological    Survey,    cited Ir.    23,    41.    4S.    4'.t.    59.    7 

A'anadium B" 

Ventura  County 154 

"V'olcanic   ash --__ 111 

Witherite    94 

■Wolframite 59 

Yolo  County 154 

Yuba   County 155 

Zinc    ^1 

total    production    61 


12-25 


E  MINING  BUREAU 


CORDIALLY    INVITES  YOU    TO  VISIT 

rs  VARIOUS  DEPARTMENTS  MAINTAINED 

FOR  THE    PURPOSE  OF   FURTHERING 

THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  CALI- 
FORNIA 

At  the  service  of  the  public  are  the  Bcienttfic 
reference  library  and  reading  room,  the  general 
information  bureau,  the  laboratory  for  the  free 
determination  of  minerai  camples  found  in  the 
state,  and  the  largest  museum  of  mineral  speci- 
mens on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  time  anfd  atten- 
tion of  the  State  Mineralogist,  as  well  as  of 
His  technical  staff,  are  also  at  your  disposal. 
Office  hours:  9  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  daily. 
Saturday,  9  a.m.  to  12  m, 

LLOYD  L.  ROOT, 
State  Mineralogist. 

Third  floor,  Ferry  Building,  San   Francisco,  Cai. 

Branch  Offices:  New  Orpheum  Buiidtng,  Los 
Angeles;  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building  (mail 
address,  P.  O.  Box  1208),  Sacramento;  Bank  of 
Italy  Building,  Bakersfield;  Taft,  Coalinga,  Santa 
Maria,  Santa  Paula. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


RECEIVED 

.PR     41980 

PHYS  SCI  LIBRARY 


IJUN 


s  0  wee 


jUN  30 


^983 


JUN  301986 


:  4    1986  *•  B<K(kSlip-25»n-7,'53(A899884)458 


RECEIVED 

NOV    5  1986 


PHYS  SCI  LIBRA  - 


Calif  omia.  Department 
of  natural  resources. 
Division  of  mines. 

MYSiCAL 
iCIENCES 
LIBRARY 


Call  Number: 

C3 
A3 

no. 96-97 

C3 
A3 


uaaV£&SITY  OF  calu^okma 
DAVIS 

113352 


